../ 


^ 


ASOLANDO. 


ASOLAN  DO 


FANCIES    AND    FACTS, 


BY 

ROBERT     BROWNING. 


LONDON: 
SMITH,    ELDER,   &   CO.,   15  WATERLOO    PLACE. 

1890. 

[All    rights    reser7>ed.'\ 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.arcliive.org/details/asolandofanciesfOObrowricli 


TO  MRS,   ARTHUR  B  RONS  ON. 

To  WHOM  but  you,  dear  Friend^  should  I  dedicate  verses — 
so7ne  few  written^  all  of  them  supervised^  in  the  comfort  of 
your  presence,  and  with  yet  another  experience  of  the  gracious 
hospitality  now  bestowed  on  me  since  so  many  a  year, — add- 
ing a  charm  even  to  7ny  residences  at  Venice,  and  leaving 
me  little  regret  for  the  surprise  and  delight  at  my  visits  to 
A  solo  in  bygone  days  f 

I  unite,  you  will  see,  the  disconnected  poems  by  a  title- 
name  popularly  ascribed  to  the  inventiveness  of  the  ancient 
secretary  of  Queen  Cornaro  whose  palace-tower  still  over- 
looks us :  Asolare — "  to  disport  in  the  open  air,  a^nuse  one- 
self at  random y  The  objection  that  such  a  word  7wwhere 
occurs  i7i  the  works  of  the  Cardinal  is  hardly  imp07'tant — 
Bembo  was  too  thorough  a  purist  to  conserve  in  print  a 
term  which  in  talk  he  might  possibly  toy  with :  but  the  word 


ASOLANDO 

is  more  likely  derived  from  a  Spanish  source.  I  use  it  far 
love  of  the  place ^  and  in  requital  of  your  pleasant  assurance 
that  an  early  poem  of  mine  first  attracted  you  thither — where 
and  elsewhere^  at  La  Mura  as  Cd  Alvisi,  may  all  happiness 
attend  you  I 

Gratefully  and  affectionately  yours, 

R.  B. 
AsoLO  :  October  15,  1889. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Prologue i 

ROSNY 5 

Dubiety .  8 

Now lo 

Humility ii 

Poetics 12 

summum  bonum i3 

A  Pearl,  a  Girl 14 

Speculative 16 

White  Witchcraft 17 

Bad  Dreams  :  1 19 

,,     II .20 

„    III 27 

n     IV 30 


viii  ASOLANDO 

Inapprehensiveness 

Which? 

The  Cardinal  and  the  Dog 40" 

The  Pope  and  the  Net 42 

The  Bean-Feast 46 

Muckle-mouth  Meg 52 

Arcades  Ambo 56 

The  Lady  and  the  Painter 58 

PONTE    dell'    AnGELO,    VENICE 6l 

Beatrice  Signorini 76 

Flute-Music,  with  an  Accompaniment        ...  99 

*'Imperante  Augusto  natus  est "     .        .        .     .  112 

Development 123 

Rephan 131 

Reverie 141 

Epilogue 156 


ASOLANDO 


PROLOGUE. 

"The  Poet's  a^e  is  sad  :  for  why? 

In  youth,  the  natural  world  could  show 
No  common  object  but  his  eye 

At  once  involved  with  alien  glow — 
His  own  souFs  iris-bow. 

"  And  now  a  flower  is  just  a  flower  : 

Man,  bird,  beast  are  but  beast,  bird,  man- 
Simply  themselves,  uncinct  by  dower 

Of  dyes  which,  when  life's  day  began, 
Round  each  in  glory  ran." 


ASOLANDO: 

Friend,  did  you  need  an  optic  glass, 

Which  were  your  choice  ?     A  lens  to  drape 

In  ruby,  emerald,  chrysopras. 
Each  object — or  reveal  its  shape 

Clear  outlined,  past  escape, 

The  naked  very  thing  ? — so  clear 

That,  when  you  had  the  chance  to  gaze, 

You  found  its  inmost  self  appear 

Through  outer  seeming — truth  ablaze, 

Not  falsehood's  fancy-haze  ? 

How  many  a  year,  my  Asolo, 

Since — one  step  just  from  sea  to  land — 
I  found  you,  loved  yet  feared  you  so — 

For  natural  objects  seemed  to  stand 
Palpably  fire-clothed  !     No — 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  i 

No  mastery  of  mine  o'er  these  ! 

Terror  with  beauty,  like  the  Bush 
Burning  but  unconsumed.     Bend  knees, 

Drop  eyes  to  earthward  !     Language  ?     Tush  ! 
Silence  't  is  awe  decrees. 

And  now  ?     The  lambent  flame  is — where  ? 

Lost  from  the  naked  world :  earth,  sky, 
Hill,  vale,  tree,  flower, — Italia's  rare 

O'er-running  beauty  crowds  the  eye — 
But  flame  ?     The  Bush  is  bare. 

Hill,  vale,  tree,  flower — they  stand  distinct, 
Nature  to  know  and  name.     What  then  ? 

A  Voice  spoke  thence  which  straight  unlinked 
Fancy  from  fact :  see,  all 's  in  ken  : 

Has  once  my  eyelid  winked  ? 

R  2 


ASOLANDO: 

No,  for  the  purged  ear  apprehends 

Earth's  import,  not  the  eye  late  dazed : 

The  Voice  said  "  Call  my  works  thy  friends  ^ 
At  Nature  dost  thou  shrink  amazed  ? 

God  is  it  who  transcends." 

AsoLO:  Sept,  6,  1889. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 


ROSNY, 

Woe,  he  went  galloping  into  the  war, 

Clara,  Clara ! 
Let  us  two  dream :  shall  he  'scape  with  a  scar  ? 

Scarcely  disfigurement,  rather  a  grace 
Making  for  manhood  which  nowise  we  mar : 
See,  while  I  kiss  it,  the  flush  on  his  face — 
Rosny,  Rosny ! 

Light  does  he  laugh :  "  With  your  love  in  my  soul  "- 

(Clara,  Clara !) 
"  How  could  I  other  than — sound,  safe  and  whole — 
Cleave  who  opposed  me  asunder,  yet  stand 


ASOLANDO : 

Scatheless  beside  you,  as,  touching  love's  goal, 
Who  won  the  race  kneels,  craves  reward  at  your 
hand — 
Rosny,  Rosny?" 

Ay,  but  if  certain  who  envied  should  see ! 

Clara,  Clara, 
Certain  who  simper :  "  The  hero  for  me 

Hardly  of  life  were  so  chary  as  miss 
Death — death  and  fame — that 's  love's  guerdon  whcE 
She 

Boasts,  proud  bereaved  one,  her  choice  fell  on  this' 
Rosny,  Rosny ! " 


So, — go  on  dreaming, — he  lies  mid  a  heap 

(Clara,  Clara,) 
Of  the  slain  by  his  hand :  what  is  death  but  a  sleep  ? 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  7 

Dead,  with  my  portrait  displayed  on  his  breast : 
Love  wrought  his  undoing  :  "  No  prudence  could  keep 
The  love-maddened  wretch  from   his  fate."    That 
is  best, 
Rosny,  Rosny ! 


ASOLANDO: 


DUBIETY, 

I  WILL  be  happy  if  but  for  once  : 
Only  help  me,  Autumn  weather, 

Me  and  my  cares  to  screen,  ensconce 
In  luxury's  sofa-lap  of  leather  ! 

Sleep  ?  Nay,  comfort — with  just  a  cloud 
Suffusing  day  too  clear  and  bright : 

Eve's  essence,  the  single  drop  allowed 
To  sully,  like  milk,  Noon's  water-white. 


Let  gauziness  shade,  not  shroud, — adjust,! 
Dim  and  not  deaden, -somehow  sheathe 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  c 

Aught  sharp  in  the  rough  world's  busy  thrust, 
If  it  reach  me  through  dreaming's  vapour-wreath. 

Be  life  so,  all  things  ever  the  same  ! 

For,  what  has  disarmed  the  world  ?   Outside, 
Quiet  and  peace  :  inside,  nor  blame 

Nor  want,  nor  wish  whate'er  betide. 

What  is  it  like  that  has  happened  before  ? 

A  dream  ^     No  dream,  more  real  by  much. 
A  vision  ?     But  fanciful  days  of  yore 

Brought  many  :  mere  musing  seems  not  such. 

Perhaps  but  a  memory,  after  all  ! 

— Of  what  came  once  when  a  woman  leant 
To  feel  for  my  brow  where  her  kiss  might  fall. 

Truth  ever,  truth  only  the  excellent ! 


ASOLANDO: 


NOW. 


Out  of  your  whole  life  give  but  a  moment ' 

All  of  your  life  that  has  gone  before, 

All  to  come  after  it, — so  you  ignore 

So  you  make  perfect  the  present, — condense, 

In  a  rapture  of  rage,  for  perfection's  endowment, 

Thought  and  feeling  and  soul  and  sense — 

Merged  in  a  moment  which  gives  me  at  last 

You  around  me  for  once,  you  beneath  me,  above  me  — " 

Me— sure  that  despite  of  time  future,  time  past, — 

This  tick  of  our  life-time  's  one  moment  you  love  me  ! 

How  long  such  suspension  may  linger?     Ah,  Sweet — 

The  moment  eternal — just  that  and  no  more — 

When  ecstasy's  utmost  we  clutch  at  the  core 

While  cheeks  burn,  arms  open,  eyes  shut  and  lips  meet ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 


HUMILITY, 

What  girl  but,  having  gathered  flowers^ 
Stript  the  beds  and  spoilt  the  bowers, 
From  the  lapful  light  she  carries 
Drops  a  careless  bud  ? — nor  tarries 
To  regain  the  waif  and  stray  : 
"  Store  enough  for  home  " — she  '11  say. 

So  say  I  too  :  give  your  lover 
Heaps  of  loving — under,  over, 
Whelm  him — make  the  one  the  wealthy  [; 
Am  I  all  so  poor  who — stealthy 
Work  it  was  ! — picked  up  what  fell : 
Not  the  worst  bud — who  can  tell  ? 


32 


ASOLANDO: 


POETICS. 

"  So  say  the  foolish  !  "     Say  the  foolish  so,  Love  ? 
"  Flower  she  is,  my  rose  " — or  else  "  My  very  swan  is 
she  "— 
Or  perhaps   "Yon    maid-moon,    blessing   earth  below. 
Love, 
That  art   thou  ! " — to  them,  belike  :    no   such  vain 
words  from  me. 


"  Hush,  rose,  blush  !  no  balm  like  breath,"  I  chide  it : 
"  Bend  thy   neck   its   best,  swan, — hers    the  whiter 
curve  !  " 

Be  the  moon  the  moon  :  my  Love  I  place  beside  it : 
What  is  she  ?     Her  human  self, — no  lower  word  will 


serve. 


T| 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  Ij. 

SUM  MUM  BO  HUM 

All  the  breath  and  the  bloom  of  the  year  in  the  bag  of 
one  bee  : 
All  the  wonder  and  wealth  of  the  mine  in  the  heart  of 
one  gem  : 
In  the  core  of  one  pearl  all  the  shade  and  the  shine  of 
the  sea : 
Breath  and  bloom,  shade  and  shine, — wonder,  wealth, 
and — how  far  above  them — 

Truth,  that 's  brighter  than  gem, 
Trust,  that 's  purer  than  pearl, — 
Brightest  truth,  purest  trust   in][the  universe — all  were 
for  me 

In  the  kiss  of  one  girl. 


ASOLANDO: 


A   PEARL,  A    GIRL. 

A  SIMPLE  ring  with  a  single  stone 

To  the  vulgar  eye  no  stone  of  price  : 
Whisper  the  right  word,  that'alone — 

Forth  starts  a  sprite,  like  fire  from  ice. 
And  lo,  you  are  lord  (says  an  Eastern  scroll) 

Of  heaven  and  earth,  lord  whole  and  sole 

Through  the  power  in  a  pearl. 


A  woman  (J't  is  I  this'time  that  say) 

With  little  the  world  counts  worthy  praise : 
Utter  the  true  word— out  and  away 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  15 

Escapes  her  soul  :  I  am  wrapt  in  blaze, 
Creation's  lord,  of  heaven  and  earth 
Lord  whole  and  sole — by  a  minute's  birth — 

Through  the  love  in  a  girl ! 


i6 


ASOLANDO: 


SPECULA  TIVE. 

Others  may  need  new  life  in  Heaven — 
Man,  Nature,  Art — made  new,  assume  ! 

Man  with  new  mind  old  sense  to  leaven. 
Nature — new  light  to  clear  old  gloom, 

Art  that  breaks  bounds,  gets  soaring- room. 


I  shall  pray  :  "  Fugitive  as  precious — 
Minutes  which  passed, — return,  remain  ! 

Let  earth's  old  life  once  more  enmesh  us, 
You  with  old  pleasure,  me — old  pain. 

So  we  but  meet  nor  part  again  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  17 


WHITE    WITCHCRAFT. 

If  you  and  I  could  change  to  beasts,  what  beast  should 

either  be  ? 
Shall  you  and  I  play  Jove  for  once  ?    Turn  fox  then,  I 

decree  ! 
Shy  wild  sweet  stealer  of  the  grapes  !    Now  do  your  worst 

on  me ! 

xVnd  thus  you  think  to  spite  your  friend — turned  loath- 
some ?     What,  a  toad  ? 

So,  all  men  shrink  and  shun  me !     Dear  men,  pursue 

your  road  ! 

Leave  but  my  crevice  in  the  stone,  a  reptile's  fit  abode ! 

c 


i8 


ASOLANDO : 


Now   say  your  worst,    Canidia !    ''  He  's   loathsome, 
allow : 

There  may  or  may  not  lurk  a  pearl  beneath  his  puckered 
brow : 

But  see  his  eyes  that  follow  mine— love  lasts  there,  any- 
how." 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 


BAD  DREAMS.     I. 

Last  night  I  saw  you  in  my  sleep  : 

And  how  your  charm  of  face  was  changed  ! 

I  asked  "  Some  love,  some  faith  you  keep  ?  " 
You  answered  "Faith  gone,  love  estranged." 

Whereat  I  woke — a  twofold  bliss : 
Waking  was  one,  but  next  there  came 

This  other :  "  Though  I  felt,  for  this. 
My  heart  break,  I  loved  on  the  same." 


^9 


ASOLANDO 


BAD  DREAMS.     II. 

You  in  the  flesh  and  here — 
Your  very  self !     Now  wait ! 

One  word  !     May  I  hope  or  fear  ? 
Must  I  speak  in  love  or  hate  ? 

Stay  while  I  ruminate  ! 


The  fact  and  each  circumstance 
Dare  you  disown  ?     Not  you  ! 

That  vast  dome,  that  huge  dance, 
And  the  gloom  which  overgrew 

A — possibly  festive  crew  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 

For  why  should  men  dance  at  all — 
Why  women — a  crowd  of  both — 

Unless  they  are  gay  ?    Strange  ball — 
Hands  and  feet  plighting  troth, 

Yet  partners  enforced  and  loth ! 

Of  who  danced  there,  no  shape 
Did  I  recognize:  thwart,  perverse, 

Each  grasped  each,  past  escape 
In  a  whirl  or  weary  or  worse  : 

Man's  sneer  met  woman's  curse, 

While  he  and  she  toiled  as  if 
Their  guardian  set  galley-slaves 

To  supple  chained  limbs  grown  stiff : 
Unmanacled  trulls  and  knaves — 

The  lash  for  who  misbehaves  ! 


ASOLANDO: 

And  a  gloom  was,  all  the  while^ 
Deeper  and  deeper  yet 

O'ergrowing  the  rank  and  file 
Of  that  army  of  haters — set 

To  mimic  love's  fever-fret. 

By  the  wall-side  close  I  crept, 
Avoiding  the  livid  maze. 

And,  safely  so  far,  outstepped 
On  a  chamber — a  chapel,  says 

My  memory  or  betrays — 


Closet-like,  kept  aloof 
From  unseemly  witnessing 

What  sport  made  floor  and  roof 
Of  the  Devil's  palace  ring 

While  his  Damned  amused  their  king. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  23 

Ay,  for  a  low  lamp  burned, 

And  a  silence  lay  about 
What  I,  in  the  midst,  discerned 

Though  dimly  till,  past  doubt, 
'T  was  a  sort  of  throne  stood  out — 

High  seat  with  steps,  at  least : 
And  the  topmost  step  was  filled 

By — whom  ?    What  vestured  priest  ? 
A  stranger  to  me, — his  guild, 

His  cult,  unreconciled 

To  my  knowledge  how  guild  and  cult 
Are  clothed  in  this  world  of  ours  : 

I  pondered,  but  no  result 

Came  to — unless  that  Giaours 

So  worship  the  Lower  Powers. 


24  ASOLANDO : 

When  suddenly  who  entered  ? 

Who  knelt — did  you  guess  I  saw  ? 
Who — raising  that  face  where  centred 

Allegiance  to  love  and  law 
So  lately — off-casting  awe, 

Down-treading  reserve,  away 

Thrusting  respect  .  .  .  but  mine 

Stands  firm — firm  still  shall  stay ! 
Ask  Satan  !  for  I  decline 

To  tell — what  I  saw,  in  fine ! 

Yet  here  in  the  flesh  you  come — 
Your  same  self,  form  and  face, — 

In  the  eyes,  mirth  still  at  home  ! 
On  the  lips,  that  commonplace 

Perfection  of  honest  grace  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  25 

Yet  your  errand  is — needs  must  be — 

To  palliate — well,  explain, 
Expurgate  in  some  degree 

Your  soul  of  its  ugly  stain. 
Oh,  you — the  good  in  grain — 

How  was  it  your  white  took  tinge  ? 

"A  mere  dream" — never  object ! 
Sleep  leaves  a  door  on  hinge 

Whence  soul,  ere  our  flesh  suspect, 
Is  off  and  away  :  detect 

Her  vagaries  when  loose,  who  can  ! 

Be  she  pranksome,  be  she  prude, 
Disguise  with  the  day  began  : 

With  the  night — ah,  what  ensued 
From  draughts  of  a  drink  hell-brewed  ? 


26  ASOLANDO: 

Then  She  :  "  What  a  queer  wild  dream  \ 
And  perhaps  the  best  fun  is — 

Myself  had  its  fellow — I  seem 

Scarce  awake  from  yet.     'T  was  this- 

Shall  I  tell  you  ?     First,  a  kiss  ! 

"  For  the  fault  was  just  your  own, — 
T  is  myself  expect  apology  : 

You  warned  me  to  let  alone 

(Since  our  studies  were  mere  philology) 

That  ticklish  (you  said)  Anthology. 


"So,  I  dreamed  that  I  passed  exam 
Till  a  question  posed  me  sore : 

*  Who  translated  this  epigram 
By — an  author  we  best  ignore  ?  ' 

And  I  answered  '  Hannah  More '  !  " 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  27 


BAD  DREAMS.     III. 

This  was  my  dream  :  I  saw  a  Forest 

Old  as  the  earth,  no  track  nor  trace 
Of  unmade  man.     Thou,  Soul,  explorest — 

Though  in  a  trembling  rapture — space 
Immeasurable  !     Shrubs,  turned  trees, 
Trees  that  touch  heaven,  support  its  frieze 
Studded  with  sun  and  moon  and  star  : 
While — oh,  the  enormous  growths  that  bar 
Mine  eye  from  penetrating  past 

Their  tangled  twine  where  lurks — nay,  lives 
Royally  lone,  some  brute-type  cast 

r  the  rough,  time  cancels,  man  forgives. 


28 


ASOLANDO: 


On,  Soul  !     I  saw  a  lucid  City 

Of  architectural  device 
Every  way  perfect.     Pause  for  pity, 

Lightning  !  nor  leave  a  cicatrice 
On  those  bright  marbles,  dome  and  spire, 
Structures  palatial, — streets  which  mire 
Dares  not  defile,  paved  all  too  fine 
For  human  footstep's  smirch,  not  thine — 
Proud  solitary  traverser, 

My  Soul,  of  silent  lengths  of  way — 
With  what  ecstatic  dread,  aver. 

Lest  life  start  sanctioned  by  thy  stay  ! 


Ah,  but  the  last  sight  was  the  hideous  ! 

A  City,  yes, — a  Forest,  true, — 
But  each  devouring  each.     Perfidious 

Snake-plants  had  strangled  what  I  knew 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  29. 

Was  a  pavilion  once  :  each  oak 

Held  on  his  horns  some  spoil  he  broke 

By  surreptitiously  beneath 

Upthrusting  :  pavements,  as  with  teeth, 

Griped  huge  weed  widening  crack  and  split 

In  squares  and  circles  stone-work  erst. 
Oh,  Nature — good  !     Oh,  Art — no  whit 

Less  worthy  !     Both  in  one — accurst ! 


30 


ASOLANDO: 


BAD  DREAMS.     IV. 

It  happened  thus  :  my  slab,  though  new, 
Was  getting  weather-stained, — beside, 

Herbage,  balm,  peppermint  o'ergrew 
Letter  and  letter  :  till  you  tried 

Somewhat,  the  Name  was  scarce  descried. 


That  strong  stern  man  my  lover  came  : 
— Was  he  my  lover  ?     Call  him,  pray. 

My  life's  cold  critic  bent  on  blame 
Of  all  poor  I  could  do  or  say 

To  make  me  worth  his  love  one  day — 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  31 

One  far  day  when,  by  diligent 

And  dutiful  amending  faults, 
Foibles,  all  weaknesses  which  went 

To  challenge  and  excuse  assaults 
Of  culture  wronged  by  taste  that  halts — 

Discrepancies  should  mar  no  plan 

Symmetric  of  the  qualities 
Claiming  respect  from — say — a  man 

That's  strong  and  stern.     "Once  more  he  pries 
Into  me  with  those  critic  eyes  ! " 

No  question  !  so — "Conclude,  condemn 

Each  failure  my  poor  self  avows  ! 
Leave  to  its  fate  all  you  contemn  ! 

There  's  Solomon's  selected  spouse  : 
Earth  needs  must  hold  such  maids  — choose  them  !" 


32  ASOLANDO: 

Why,  he  was  weeping  !     Surely  gone 

Sternness  and  strength  :  with  eyes  to  ground 

And  voice  a  broken  monotone — 
"  Only  be  as  you  were  !     Abound 

In  foibles,  faults, — laugh,  robed  and  crowned 

"  As  Folly's  veriest  queen, — care  I 
One  feather-fluff?     Look  pity,  Love, 

On  prostrate  me — your  foot  shall  try 
This  forehead's  use — mount  thence  above,. 

And  reach  what  Heaven  you  dignify  ! " 


Now,  what  could  bring  such  change  about  ? 

The  thought  perplexed  :  till,  following 
His  gaze  upon  the  ground, — why,  out 

Came  all  the  secret !     So,  a  thing 
Thus  simple  has  deposed  my  king  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  33 

Por,  spite  of  weeds  that  strove  to^spoil 

Plain  reading  on  the  lettered  slab, 
My  name  was  clear  enough— no  soil 

Effaced  the  date  when  one  chance  stab 
Of  scorn  .  .  .  if  only  ghosts  might  blab  ! 


34 


ASOLANDO: 


INAPPREHENSIVENESS, 


We  two  stood  simply  friend-like  side  by  side, 

Viewing  a  twilight  country  far  and  wide, 

Till  she  at  length  broke  silence.     "  How  it  towers 

Yonder,  the  ruin  o'er  this  vale  of  ours  ! 

The  West's  faint  flare  behind  it  so  relieves 

Its  rugged  outline— sight  perhaps  deceives, 

Or  I  could  almost  fancy  that  I  see 

A  branch  wave  plain — belike  some  wind- sown  tree 

Chance-rooted  where  a  missing  turret  was. 

What  would  I  give  for  the  perspective  glass 

At  home,  to  mrke  out  if 't  is  really  so  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  35 

Has  Ruskin  noticed  here  at  Asolo 

That  certain  weed-growths  on  the  ravaged  wall 

Seem  "...  something  that  I  could  not  say  at  all, 

My  thought  being  rather — as  absorbed  she  sent 

Look  onward  after  look  from  eyes  distent 

With  longing  to  reach  Heaven's  gate  left  ajar — 

"  Oh,  fancies  that  might  be,  oh,  facts  that  are  ! 

What  of  a  wilding  ?     By  you  stands,  and  may 

So  stand  unnoticed  till  the  Judgment  Day, 

One  who,  if  once  aware  that  your  regard 

Claimed  what  his  heart  holds, — woke,  as  from  its  sward 

The  flower,  the  dormant  passion,  so  to  speak — 

Then  what  a  rush  of  life  would  startling  wreak 

Revenge  on  your  inapprehensive  stare 

While,  from  the  ruin  and  the  West's  faint  flare. 

You  let  your  eyes  meet  mine,  touch  what  you  term 

Quietude — that 's  an  universe  in  germ — 

D  2 


36 


ASOLANDO: 


The  dormant  passion  needing  but  a  look 
To  burst  into  immense  life  ! " 

"  No,  the  book 
Which  noticed  how  the  wall-growths  wave  "  said  she 
"Was  not  by  Ruskin." 

I  said  "Vernon  Lee?" 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  37 


WHICH? 

So,  the  three  Court-ladies  began 
Their  trial  of  who  judged  best 
In  esteeming  the  love  of  a  man : 
Who  preferred  with  most  reason  was  thereby 
confessed 
Boy-Cupid's  exemplary  catcher  and  eager ; 
An  Abbe  crossed  legs  to  decide  on  the  wager. 

First  the  Duchesse :  "  Mine  for  me — 

Who  were  it  but  God's  for  Him, 
And  the  King's  for — who  but  he  ? 
Both  faithful  and  loyal,  one  grace  more  shall  brim 


38  ASOLANDO: 

His  cup  with  perfection :  a  lady's  true  lover, 

He  holds — save  his  God  and  his  king — none  above  her.'' 

"  I  require  " — outspoke  the  Marquise — 

"  Pure  thoughts,  ay,  but  also  fine  deeds  : 
Play  the  paladin  must  he,  to  please 
My  whim,  and — to  prove  my  knight's  service  exceeds 
Your  saint's  and  your  loyalist's  praying  and  kneeling — 
Show  wounds,  each  wide  mouth  to  my  mercy  appealing." 

Then  the  Comtesse :  "  My  choice  be  a  wretch, 

Mere  losel  in  body  and  soul. 
Thrice  accurst !    What  care  I,  so  he  stretch 
Arms  to  me  his  sole  saviour,  love's  ultimate  goal, 
Out   of   earth    and    men's    noise — names   of    *  infidel,' 

*  traitor,' 
Cast  up  at  him  ?    Crown  me,  crown's  adjudicator !" 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  39 

And  the  Abbe  uncrossed  his  legs, 

Took  snuff,  a  reflective  pinch. 
Broke  silence :  "  The  question  begs 
Much  pondering  ere  I  pronounce.     Shall  I  flinch  ? 
The  love  which  to  one  and  one  only  has  reference 
Seems  terribly  like  what  perhaps  gains  God's  preference." 


40 


ASOLANDO: 


THE  CARDINAL  AND   THE  DOG, 


Crescenzio,  the  Pope's  Legate  at  the  High  Council, 

Trent, 
— Year  Fifteen  hundred  twenty-two,  March  Twenty-five 

— intent 
On  writing  letters  to  the  Pope  till  late  into  the  night, 
Rose,  weary,  to  refresh  himself,  and   saw  a  monstrous 

sight : 
(I   give  mine  Author's  very  words:   he   penned,  I   re-" 

indite.) 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  41 

A  black  Dog  of  vast  bigness,  eyes  flaming,  ears  that  hung 
Down   to   the  very  ground  ahnost,   into   the  chamber 

sprung 
And  made  directly  for  him,  and  laid  himself  right  under 
The  table  where  Crescenzio  wrote — who  called  in  fear 

and  wonder 
His  servants  in  the  ante-room,  commanded  everyone 
To  look  for  and  find  out  the  beast :  but,  looking,  they 

found  none. 

The  Cardinal  fell  melancholy,  then  sick,  soon  after  died : 
And  at  Verona,  as  he  lay  on  his  death-bed,  he  cried 
Aloud  to  drive  away  the  Dog  that  leapt  on  his  bed-side. 
Heaven  keep  us  Protestants  from  harm:  the  rest  .  .  . 
no  ill  betide ! 


42 


ASOLANDO: 


THE  POPE  AND   THE  NET, 


H 


What,  he  on  whom  our  voices  unanimously  ran, 

Made  Pope  at   our  last  Conclave?     Full  low   his  life 

began : 
His  father  earned  the  daily  bread  as  just  a  fisherman. 


So  much  the  more  his  boy  minds  book,  gives  proof  of 

mother-wit, 
Becomes  first  Deacon,  and  then  Priest,  then  Bishop :  see 

him  sit 
No  less   than   Cardinal   ere  long,   while   no  one  cril 

"Unfit!" 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  43 

But  someone  smirks,  some  other  smiles,  jogs  elbow  and 

nods  head : 
Each  winks  at  each:  "'I-faith,  a  rise!  Saint  Peter's  net, 

instead 
Of  sword  and  keys,  is  come  in  vogue  ! "    You  think  he 

blushes  red  ? 

Not  he,  of  humble  holy  heart !     "  Unworthy  me  !  "  he 

sighs : 
"  From  fisher's  drudge  to  Church's  prince — it  is  indeed  a 

rise: 
So,  here's  my  way  to  keep  the  fact  for  ever  in  my  eyes !  "" 

And  straightway  in  his  palace-hall,  where  commonly  is 

set 
Some  coat-of-arms,  some  portraiture  ancestral,  lo,  we  met 
His  mean  estate's  reminder  in  his  fisher-father's  net ! 


.44  ASOLANDO: 

Which  step  conciliates  all  and  some,  stops  cavil  in  a 

trice : 
"  The  humble  holy  heart  that  holds  of  new-born  pride  no 

spice ! 
He 's  just  the  saint  to  choose  for  Pope ! "     Each  adds 

"Tis  my  advice." 


So,  Pope  he  was :  and  when  we  flocked — its  sacred  slipper 


>4 


To   kiss  his   foot,  we   lifted   eyes,  alack  the  thing  was 

gone — 
That  guarantee  of  lowdihead, — eclipsed  that  star  which 

shone ! 


Each  eyed  his  fellow,  one  and  all  kept  silence. 
"  Pish ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  45. 

I'll  make  me  spokesman  for  the  rest,  express  the  common 

wish. 
Why,  Father,  is  the  net  removed?"  "Son,  it  hath  caught 

the  fish." 


46 


ASOLANDO: 


THE  BEAN-FEAST. 


He  was  the  man — Pope  Sixtus,  that  Fifth,  that  swine- 
herd's son :  ^1 

He  knew  the  right  thing,  did  it,  and  thanked  God  when! 
't  was  done  :  ™l 

But  of  all  he  had  to  thank  for,  my  fancy  somehow  leans 

To  thinking,  what  most  moved  him  was  a  certain  meal  on 


beans. 


JW 


For  one  day,  as  his  wont  was,  in  just  enough  disg 

As  he  went  exploring  wickedness, — to  see  with  his  own 


eyes 


y\ 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  47 

If  law  had  due  observance  in  the  city's  entrail  dark 
As  well  as  where,  i'  the  open,  crime  stood  an  obvious 
mark,  — 

He  chanced,  in  a  blind  alley,  on  a  tumble-down  once 

house 
Now  hovel,  vilest  structure  in  Rome  the  ruinous  : 
And,  as  his  tact  impelled  him,  Sixtus  adventured  bold, 
To  learn  how  lowliest  subjects^  bore  hunger,  toil,  and 

cold. 

There  sat  they  at  high-supper — man  and  wife,  lad  and  lass. 
Poor  as  you  please  but  cleanly  all  and  care-free  :  pain  that 

was 
— Forgotten,  pain  as  sure  to  be  let  bide  aloof  its  time, — 
Mightily  munched  the  brave  ones — what  mattered  gloom 

or  grime  ? 


48 


ASOLANDO: 


Said  Sixtus  "  Feast,  my  children  !  who  works  hard  needs- 

eat  well. 
I'm  just  a  supervisor,  would  hear  what  you  can  tell. 
Do  any  wrongs  want  righting  ?  The  Father  tries  his  b< 
But,  since  he 's  only  mortal,  sends  such  as  I  to  test 
The  truth  of  all  that 's  told  him — how  folk  like  you  may" 

fare  : 
Come  ! — only  don't  stop  eating— when  mouth  has  words. 

to  spare — 


"You" — smiled  he — "play  the  spokesman,  bell-wether 

of  the  flock ! 
Are  times  good,  masters  gentle  ?  Your  grievances  unlock  f 
How  of  your  work  and  wages  ? — pleasures,  if  such 

be— 
Pains,  as  such  are  for  certain."     Thus  smiling  questioil 

he. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  49 

But   somehow,   spite   of    smiling,   awe   stole   upon   the 

group— 
An   inexpressible   surmise :    why   should   a  priest   thus 

stoop — 
Pry    into   what    concerned    folk?       Each   visage    fell. 

Aware, 
Cries  Sixtus  interposing :  "  Nay,  children,  have  no  care  ! 


"  Fear  nothing !  Who  employs  me  requires  the  plain 
truth.     Pelf 

Beguiles  who  should  inform  me  :  so,  I  inform  my- 
self. 

See  !"  And  he  threw  his  hood  back,  let  the  close  ves- 
ture ope, 

Showed  face,  and  where  on  tippet  the  cross  lay :  't  was 
the  Pope. 

E 


so 


ASOLANDO: 


Imagine  the  joyful  wonder !     "  How  shall  the  like  of 

us — 
Poor  souls — requite  such  blessing  of  our  rude  bean-feast?'; 

"  Thus— 
Thus  amply  !  "  laughed  Pope  Sixtus.     *'  I  early  rise,  sleep 

late: 
Who  works  may  eat :  they  tempt  me,  your  beans  there  T 

spare  a  plate  ! " 

Down  sat  he  on  the  door-step :  't  was  they  this  time  said 

grace : 
He  ate  up  the  last  mouthful,  wiped  lips,  and  then,  with 

face 
Turned  heavenward,  broke  forth  thankful :  "  Not  now, 

that  earth  obeys 
Thy  word  in  mine,  that  through  me  the  peoi)les  know 

lliy  ways — 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  51 

But  that  Thy  care  extendeth  to  Nature's  homely  wants, 
And,  while  man's  mind  is  strengthened.  Thy  goodness 

nowise  scants 
Man's  body  of  its   comfort, — that  I   whom  kings   and 

queens 
Crouch  to,  pick  crumbs  from  off  my  table,  relish  beans  ! 
The  thunders  I  but  seem  to  launch,  there  plain  Thy  hand 

all  see : 
That  I  have  appetite,  digest,  and   thrive — that  boon  's 

for  me." 


52 


ASOLANDO: 


MUCKLE-MOUTH  MEG. 

Frowned  the  Laird  on  the  Lord:  "So,  red-handed  I 
catch  thee  ? 

Death-doomed  by  our  Law  of  the  Border  ! 
We  Ve  a  gallows  outside  and  a  chiel  to  dispatch  thee  : 

Who  trespasses— hangs :  all 's  in  order." 


He    met    frown    with    smile,   did    the   young   English 
gallant : 

Then  the  Laird's  dame :  "  Nay,  Husband,  I  beg  ! 
He's  comely  :  be  merciful !     Grace  for  the  callant 

—If  he  marries  our  Muckle-mouth  Meg  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  53 

"  No  mile-wide-mouthed  monster  of  yours  do  I  marry : 

Grant  rather  the  gallows  !  "  laughed  he. 
''  Foul  fare  kith  and  kin  of  you — why  do  you  tarry  ?  " 

*'  To  tame  your  fierce  temper !  "  quoth  she. 


^'  Shove  him  quick   in   the  Hole,   shut  him  fast  for  a 
week : 

Cold,  darkness  and  hunger  work  w^onders : 
Who  lion-like  roars  now,  mouse-fashion  will  squeak, 

And  '  it  rains '  soon  succeed  to  *  it  thunders.' " 


A  week  did  he  bide  in  the  cold  and  the  dark 

— Not  hunger :  for  duly  at  morning 
In  flitted  a  lass,  and  a  voice  like  a  lark 

Chirped  *'  Muckle-mouth  Meg  still  ye  're  scorning  ? 


54  ASOLANDO: 

"  Go  hang,  but  here 's  parritch  to  hearten  ye  first !  " 
"  Did  Meg's  muckle-mouth  boast  within  some 

Such  music  as  yours,  mine  should  match  it  or  burst : 
No  frog-jaws  !     So  tell  folk,  my  Winsome  !  " 

Soon  week   came  to   end,  and,    from   Hole's  door  set 
wide. 

Out  he  marched,  and  there  waited  the  lassie : 
"  Yon  gallows,  or  Muckle-mouth  Meg  for  a  bride  ! 

Consider  !     Sky  's  blue  and  turf 's  grassy  : 


"  Life 's    sweet :    shall    I    say  ye  wed   Muckle-mouth 
Meg?" 

"  Not  I  "  quoth  the  stout  heart  :  "too  eerie 
The  mouth  that  can  swallow  a  bubblyjock's  egg : 

Shall  I  let  it  munch  mine  ?     Never,  Dearie  ! 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  55 

"  Not  Muckle-mouth  Meg  ?   Wow,  the  obstinate  man  ! 

Perhaps  he  would  rather  wed  me  ! " 
"  Ay,  would  he — with  just  for  a  dowry  your  can  !" 

"Tm  Muckle-mouth  Meg"  chirruped  she. 

"  Then  so — so — so — so —  "  as  he  kissed  her  apace — 
"  Will  I  widen  thee  out  till  thou  turnest 

From  Margaret  Minnikin-mou',  by  God's  grace, 
To  Muckle-mouth  Meg  in  good  earnest !  " 


56  ASOLANDO: 


ARCADES  AMBO. 

A,  You  blame  me  that  I  ran  away? 

Why,  Sir,  the  enemy  advanced : 
Balls  flew  about,  and — who  can  say 

But  one,  if  I  stood  firm,  had  glanced 
In  my  direction?     Cowardice? 
I  only  know  we  don't  live  twice. 
Therefore— shun  death,  is  my  advice. 

B.  Shun  death  at  all  risks  ?    Well,  at  some  ! 

True,  I  myself,  Sir,  though  I  scold 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  57 

The  cowardly,  by  no  means  come 

Under  reproof  as  overbold 
— I,  who  would  have  no  end  of  brutes 
Cut  up  alive  to  guess  what  suits 
My  case  and  saves  my  toe  from  shoots. 


58 


ASOLANDO: 


THE  LADY  AND    THE  PAINTER. 

She,     Yet  womanhood  you  reverence, 

So  you  profess ! 
He.  With  heart  and  soul. 

She.     Of  which  fact  this  is  evidence*! 

To  help  Art-study,  — for  some  dole 
Of  certain  wretched  shillings, — you 
Induce  a  woman — virgin  too — 
To  strip  and  stand  stark-naked? 
He.  ,  True. 


She.     Nor  feel  you  so  degrade  her  ? 

He.  What 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  59 

— (Excuse  the  interruption) — clings 
Half-savage-like  around  your  hat? 
She.       Ah,  do  they  please  you  ?     Wild-bird-wings  ! 
Next  season,— Paris-prints  assert, — 
We  must  go  feathered  to  the  skirt : 
My  modiste  keeps  on  the  alert. 

Owls,  hawks,  jays — swallows  most  approve  .  .  . 
He.         Dare  I  speak  plainly? 
She.  Oh,  I  trust ! 

He.     Then,  Lady  Blanche,  it  less  would  move 
In  heart  and  soul  of  me  disgust 

Did  you  strip  off  those  spoils  you  wear. 

And  stand— for  thanks,  not  shillings — bare, 

To  help  Art  like  my  Model  there. 

She  well  knew  what  absolved  her — praise 
In  me  for  God's  surpassing  good. 


€o 


ASOLANDO: 


Who  granted  to  my  reverent  gaze 

A  type  of  purest  womanhood. 
You — clothed  with  murder  of  His  best 
Of  harmless  beings — stand  the  test ! 
What  is  \\, you  know? 
She,  That  you  jest ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  6i 


PONTE  DELL'  ANGELO,    VENICE. 

Stop  rowing  !     This  one  of  our  bye-canals 
O'er  a  certain  bridge  you  have  to  cross 
That 's  named  "  Of  the  Angel  "  :  listen  why  I 
The  name  "  Of  the  Devil  "  too  much  appals 
Venetian  acquaintance,  so — his  the  loss, 
While  the  gain  goes  .  .  .  look  on  high  ! 

An  angel  visibly  guards  yon  house  : 
Above  each  scutcheon — a  pair — stands  he^ 
Enfolds  them  with  droop  of  either  wing  : 
The  family's  fortune  were  perilous 


ASOLANDO: 

Did  he  thence  depart — you  will  soon  agree, 
If  I  hitch  into  verse  the  thing. 

For,  once  on  a  time,  this  house  belonged 
To  a  lawyer  of  note,  with  law  and  to  spare, 
But  also  with  overmuch  lust  of  gain  : 
In  the  matter  of  law  you  were  nowise  wronged, 
But  alas  for  the  lucre !     He  picked  you  hare 
To  the  bone.     Did  folk  complain  ? 

"  I  exact "  growled  he  "  work's  rightful  due ; 
'T  is  folk  seek  me,  not  I  seek  them. 
Advice  at  its  price !     They  succeed  or  fail. 
Get  law  in  each  case — and  a  lesson  too : 
Keep  clear  of  the  Courts — is  advice  ad  re??i: 
They'll  remember,  I  '11  be  bail !" 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  63 

So,  he  pocketed  fee  without  a  qualm. 
What  reason  for  squeamishness  ?     Labour  done, 
To  play  he  betook  him  with  lightened  heart. 
Ate,  drank  and  made  merry  with  song  or  psalm, 
Since  the  yoke  of  the  Church  is  an  easy  one^ — 
Fits  neck  nor  causes  smart. 

Brief:  never  was  such  an  extortionate 

Rascal — the  word  has  escaped  my  teeth  ! 

And  yet — (all 's  down  in  a  book  no  ass 

Indited,  believe  me  !) — this  reprobate 

Was  punctual  at  prayer-time  :  gold  lurked  beneath 

Alloy  of  the  rankest  brass. 

For,  play  the  extortioner  as  he  might, 
Fleece  folk  each  day  and  all  day  long. 


64  ASOLANDO: 

There  was  this  redeeming  circumstance : 
He  never  lay  down  to  sleep  at  night 
But  he  put  up  a  prayer  first,  brief  yet  strong^" 
"  Our  Lady  avert  mischance  !" 


Now  it  happened  at  close  of  a  fructuous  week, 
"  I  must  ask  "  quoth  he  "  some  Saint  to  dine  : 
I  want  that  widow  well  out  of  my  ears 
With  her  ailing  and  wailing.     Who  bade  her  seek 
Redress    at    my   hands  ?       '  She    was    wronged ! 

Folk  whine 
If  to  Law  wrong  right  appears. 


I 


"  Matteo  da  Bascio — he 's  my  man  I 
No  less  than  Chief  of  the  Capucins  : 
His  presence  will  surely  suffumigate 
My  house — fools  think  lies  under  a  ban 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  65 

If  somebody  loses  what  somebody  wins. 
Hark,  there  he  knocks  at  the  grate ! 


"  Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  Mother  Church  ! 

I  go  and  prepare — to  bid,  that  is, 

My  trusty  and  diligent  servitor 

Get  all  things  in  readiness.     Vain  the  search 

Through  Venice  for  one  to  compare  with  this 

My  model  of  ministrants  :  for — 

"  For — once  again,  nay,  three  times  over, 
My  helpmate 's  an  ape  !  so  intelligent, 
I  train  him  to  drudge  at  household  work : 
He  toils  and  he  moils,  I  live  in  clover : 
Oh,  you  shall  see  !     There 's  a  goodly  scent — 
From  his  cooking  or  I  'm  a  Turk ! 

F 


66  ASOLANDO: 

"  Scarce  need  to  descend  and  supervise  : 
I  '11  do  it,  however :  wait  here  awhile  ! " 
So,  down  to  the  kitchen  gaily  scuttles 
Our  host,  nor  notes  the  alarmed  surmise 
Of  the  holy  man.     "  O  depth  of  guile  ! 
He  bhndly  guzzles  and  guttles, 

"  While — who  is  it  dresses  the  food  and  pours 
The  liquor  ?    Some  fiend — I  make  no  doubt — 
In  likeness  of — which  of  the  loathly  brutes  ? 
An  ape  !     Where  hides  he  ?     No  bull  that  gores. 
No  bear  that  hugs— 't  is  the  mock  and  flout 
Of  an  ape,  fiend's  face  that  suits. 

"  So — out  with  thee,  creature,  wherever  thou  hidest ! 
I  charge  thee,  by  virtue  of  .  .  .  right  do  I  judge  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  67 

There  skulks  he  perdue,  crouching  under  the  bed. 

Well  done !     What,  forsooth,  in  beast's  shape  thou  con- 

fidest  ? 
I  know  and  would  name  thee  but  that  I  begrudge 
Breath  spent  on  such  carrion.     Instead — 

"I  adjure  thee  by "     " Stay  !"  laughed  the  portent 

that  rose 
From  floor  up  to  ceiling :  "No  need  to  adjure  ! 
See  Satan  in  person,  late  ape  by  command 
Of  Him  thou  adjurest  in  vain.     A  saint's  nose 
Scents  brimstone  though  incense  be  burned  for  a  lure. 
Yet,  hence !  for  I  'm  safe,  understand ! 

"''T  is  my  charge  to  convey  to  fit  punishment's  place 
This  lawyer,  my  liegeman,  for  cruelty  wrought 

F  2 


68 


ASOLANDO: 


On  his  clients,  the  widow  and  orphan,  poor  souls 
He  has  plagued  by  exactions  which  proved  law's  dis- 
grace, 
Made  equity  void  and  to  nothingness  brought 
God's  pity.     Fiends,  on  with  fresh  coals  ! " 

"Stay  !"  nowise  confounded,  withstands  Hell  its  match  : 
"How  comes  it,  were  truth  in  this  story  of  thine, 
God's  punishment  suffered  a  minute's  delay  ? 
Weeks,  months  have  elapsed  since  thou  squattedst  at 

watch 
For  a  spring  on  thy  victim :  what  caused  thee  decline 
Advantage  till  challenged  to-day  ?  " 


'  That  challenge  I  meet  with  contempt,"  quoth  the  fiendr 
'  Thus  much  I  acknowledge :  the  man 's  armed  in  mail : 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  69 

I  wait  till  a  joint 's  loose,  then  quick  ply  my  claws. 

Thy  friend 's   one   good   custom — he   knows   not — has 

screened 
His  flesh  hitherto  from  what  else  would  assail : 
At  "  Save  me,  Madonna  ! "  I  pause. 

"  That  prayer  did  the  losel  but  once  pretermit, 

My  pounce  were  upon  him.     I  keep  me  attent : 

He  's  in  safety  but  till  he  's  caught  napping.     Enough ! " 

"Ay,  enough  !"  smiles  the  saint — "for  the  biter  is  bit, 

The  spy  caught  in  somnolence.     Vanish !     I  'm  sent 

To  smooth  up  what  fiends  do  in  rough." 

" I  vanish?    Through  wall  or  through  roof? "  the  ripost 
Grinned  gaily.    "  My  orders  were — *  Leave  not  unharmed 
The  abode  of  this  lawyer !     Do  damage  to  prove 
' T  was  for  something  thou  quittedst  the  land  of  the  lost — 


70  ASOLANDO  : 

To  add  to  their  number  this  unit ! '    Though  charmed 
From  descent  there,  on  earth  that 's  above 


"  I  may  haply  amerce  him."     "  So  do,  and  begone, 

I  command  thee !     For,  look !     Though  there 's  doorway 

behind 
And  window  before  thee,  go  straight  through  the  wall, 
Leave  a  breach  in  the  brickwork,  a  gap  in  the  stone 
For  who   passes  to   stare  at!"     ^*  Spare  speech!     I'm 

resigned : 
Here  goes ! "  roared  the  goblin,  as  all — 

Wide  bat-wings,  spread  arms  and  legs,  tail  out  a-streac 
Crash  obstacles  went,  right  and  left,  as  he  soared 
Or  else  sank,  was  clean  gone  through  the  hole  anyhow. 
The  Saint  returned  thanks  :  then  a  satisfied  gleam 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 


11 


On  the   bald   polished  pate  showed  that  triumph  was 

scored. 
"To  dinner  with  appetite  now !" 

Down   he  trips.     "In  good  time!"    smirks  the  host. 

"  Didst  thou  scent 
Rich  savour  of  roast  meat  ?    Where  hides  he,  my  ape  ? 
Look  alive,  be  alert !     He  's  away  to  wash  plates. 
Sit  down,  Saint !     What 's  here  ?     Dost  examine  a  rent 
In  the  napkin  thou  twistest  and  twirlest  ?    Agape  .  .  . 
Ha,  blood  is  it  drips  nor  abates 

"  From  thy  wringing  a  cloth,  late  was  lavendered  fair  ? 
What  means  such  a  marvel  ?  "     "  Just  this  does  it  mean : 
I  convince  and  convict  thee  of  sin  ! "  answers  straight 
The  Saint,  wringing  on,  wringing  ever — O  rare ! — 


72 


ASOLANDO: 


Blood — blood  from  a  napery  snow  not  more  clean. 
"  A  miracle  shows  thee  thy  state  ! 

*'  See — blood  thy  extortions  have  wrung  from  the  flesh 

Of  thy  clients  who,  sheep-like,  arrived  to  be  shorn, 

• 

And  left  thee — or  fleeced  to  the  quick  or  so  flayed 

That,  behold,  their  blood  gurgles  and  grumbles  afresh 

To  accuse  thee !     Ay,  down  on  thy  knees,  get  up  sworn 

To  restore  !     Restitution  once  made, 


"  Sin  no  more  !     Dost  thou  promise  ?     Absolved,  then, 

arise ! 
Upstairs  follow  me  !     Art  amazed  at  yon  breach  ? 
Who  battered  and  shattered  and  scattered,  escape 
From  thy  purlieus  obtaining  ?    That  Father  of  Lies 
Thou  wast  wont  to  extol  for  his  feats,  all  and  each 
The  Devil 's  disguised  as  thine  ape  !" 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  73 

Be  sure  that  our  lawyer  was  torn  by  remorse, 
Shed  tears  in  a  flood,  vowed  and  swore  so  to  alter 
His  ways  that  how  else  could  our  Saint  but  declare 
He   was  cleansed   of  past   sin?     "For  sin   future — 

fare  worse 
Thou  undoubtedly  wilt,"  warned  the  Saint,  "  shouldst 

thou  falter 
One  whit !"     *'  Oh,  for  that  have  no  care  ! 


"  I    am   firm    in   my    purposed    amendment.      But, 

prithee. 
Must  ever  affront  and  affright  me  yon  gap  ? 
Who  made  it  for  exit  may  find  it  of  use 
For  entrance  as  easy.     If,  down  in  his  smithy 
He  forges  me  fetters — when  heated,  mayhap, 
He  '11  up  with  an  armful !     Broke  loose — 


74 


ASOLANDO: 


How  bar  him  out  henceforth  ?  "     "  Judiciously  urged  ! " 
Was  the  good  man's  reply.    "  How  to  baulk  him  is  plain] 
There 's  nothing  the  Devil  objects  to  so  much, 
So  speedily  flies  from,  as  one  of  those  purged 
Of  his  presence,  the  angels  who  erst  formed  his  train— 
His,  their  emperor.     Choose  one  of  such ! 


"  Get  fashioned  his  likeness  and  set  him  on  high 

At  back  of  the  breach  thus  adroitly  filled  up  : 

Display  him  as  guard  of  two  scutcheons,  thy  arms : 

I  warrant  no  devil  attempts  to  get  by 

And  disturb  thee  so  guarded.     Eat,  drink,  dine  and  sup. 

In  thy  rectitude,  safe  from  alarms  !" 


So  said  and  so  done.     See,  the  angel  has  place 
Where  the  Devil  had  passage  !     All 's  down  in  a  book. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  75 

Gainsay  me  ?     Consult  it !     Still  faithless  ?     Trust  me  ? 
Trust  Father  Boverio  who  gave  me  the  case 
In  his  Annals — gets  of  it,  by  hook  or  by  crook, 
Two  confirmative  witnesses  :  three 

Are  surely  enough  to  establish  an  act : 
And  thereby  we  learn — would  we  ascertain  truth — 
To  trust  wise  tradition  which  took,  at  the  time. 
Note  that  served  till  slow  history  ventured  on  fact, 
Though  folk  have  their  fling  at  tradition  forsooth  1 
Row,  boys,  fore  and  aft,  rhyme  and  chime ! 


76 


ASOLANDO: 


BEATRICE   SIGNORINI. 

This  strange  thing  happened  to  a  painter  once 
Viterbo  boasts  the  man  among  her  sons 
Of  note,  I  seem  to  think  :  his  ready  tool 
Picked  up  its  precepts  in  Cortona's  school — 
That 's  Pietro  Berretini,  whom  they  call 
Cortona,  these  Italians :  greatish-small, 
Our  painter  was  his  pupil,  by  repute 
His  match  if  not  his  master  absolute, 
Through  whether  he  spoiled  fresco  more  or  less, 
And  what 's  its  fortune,  scarce  repays  your  guess 
Still,  for  one  circumstance,  I  save  his  name 
— Francesco  Romanelli :  do  the  same  ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  77 

He  went  to  Rome  and  painted :  there  he  knew 

A  wonder  of  a  woman  painting  too — 

For  she,  at  least,  was  no  Cortona's  drudge : 

Witness  that  ardent  fancy-shape — I  judge 

A  semblance  of  her  soul — she  called  "  Desire '^ 

With  starry  front  for  guide,  where  sits  the  fire 

She  left  to  brighten  Buonarroti's  house. 

If  you  see  Florence,  pay  that  piece  your  vows, 

Though  blockhead  Baldinucci's  mind,  imbued 

With  monkish  morals,  bade  folk  "  Drape  the  nude 

And  stop  the  scandal !  "  quoth  the  record  prim 

I  borrow  this  of:  hang  his  book  and  him  ! 

At  Rome,  then,  where  these  fated  ones  met  first, 

The  blossom  of  his  life  had  hardly  burst 

While  hers  was  blooming  at  full  beauty's  stand : 

No  less  Francesco — when  half-ripe  he  scanned 

Consummate  Artemisia — grew  one  want 


78  ASOLANDO: 

To  have  her  his  and  make  her  ministrant 

With  every  gift  of  body  and  of  soul 

To  him.     In  vain.     Her  sphery  self  was  whole — 

Might  only  touch  his  orb  at  Art's  sole  point. 

Suppose  he  could  persuade  her  to  enjoint 

Her  life — past,  present,  future — ^all  in  his 

At  Art's  sole  point  by  some  explosive  kiss  |S 

Of  love  through  lips,  would  love's  success  defeat 

Artistry's  haunting  curse — the  Incomplete  ? 

Artists  no  doubt  they  both  were, — what  beside 

Was  she  ?  who,  long  had  felt  heart,  soul  spread  wide 

Her  life  out,  knowing  much  and  loving  well, 

On  either  side  Art's  narrow  space  where  fell 

Reflection  from  his  own  speck  :  but  the  germ 

Of  individual  genius — what  we  term 

The  very  self,  the  God-gift  whence  had  grown 

Heart's  life  and  soul's  life, — how  make  that  his  own  ? 


rf 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  79 

Vainly  his  Art,  reflected,  smiled  in  small  \ 
On  Art's  one  facet  of  her  ampler  ball ; 
The  rest,  touch-free,  took  in,  gave  back  heaven,  earth, 
All  where  he  was  not.     Hope,  well-nigh  ere  birth 
Came  to  Desire,  died  off  all-unfulfilled. 
*'  What  though  in  Art  I  stand  the  abler-skilled," 
(So  he  conceited  :  mediocrity 
Turns  on  itself  the  self-transforming  eye) 
"If  only  Art  were  suing,  mine  would  plead 
To  purpose :  man — by  nature  I  exceed 
Woman  the  bounded :  but  how  much  beside 
She  boasts,  would  sue  in  turn  and  be  denied ! 
Love  her  ?     My  own  wife  loves  me  in  a  sort 
That  suits  us  both  :  she  takes  the  world's  report 
Of  what  my  work  is  worth,  and,  for  the  rest. 
Concedes  that,  while  his  consort  keeps  her  nest, 
The  eagle  soars  a  licensed  vagrant,  lives 


8o 


ASOLANDO : 


A  wide  free  life  which  she  at  least  forgives — 
Good  Beatrice  Signorini !     Well 
And  wisely  did  I  choose  her.     But  the  spell 
To  subjugate  this  Artemisia — where? 
She  passionless?— she  resolute  to  care 
Nowise  beyond  the  plain  sufficiency 
Of  fact  that  she  is  she  and  I  am  I 
— Acknowledged  arbitrator  for  us  both 
In  her  life  as  in  mine  which  she  were  loth 
Even  to  learn  the  laws  of?     No,  and  no, 
Twenty  times  over  !     Ay,  it  must  be  so : 
I  for  myself,  alas  !  " 

Whereon,  instead 
Of  the  checked  lover's-utterance — why,  he  saic 
— Leaning  above  her  easel :  "Flesh  is  red  " 
(Or  some  such  just  remark) — "  by  no  means  white 
As  Guido's  practice  teaches :  you  are  right.'' 


saf^SI 

I 

IS  white 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  8i 

Then  came  the  better  impulse :  "  What  if  pride 
Were  wisely  trampled  on,  whate'er  betide  ? 
If  I  grow  hers,  not  mine — ^join  lives,  confuse 
Bodies  and  spirits,  gain  not  her  but  lose 
Myself  to  Artemisia  ?     That  were  love  ! 
Of  two  souls — one  must  bend,  one  rule  above  : 
If  I  crouch  under  proudly,  lord  turned  slave. 
Were  it  not  worthier  both  than  if  she  gave 
Herself — in  treason  to  herself — to  me  ?  " 

And,  all  the  while,  he  felt  it  could  not  be. 

Such  love  were  true  love :  love  that  way  who  can  ! 

Someone  that 's  born  half  woman  not  whole  man  : 

For  man,  prescribed  man  better  or  man  worse, 

Why,  whether  microcosm  or  universe, 

What  law  prevails  alike  through  great  and  small, 

The  world  and  man — world's  miniature  we  call  ? 


82 


ASOLANDO: 


Male  is  the  master.    "That  way  " — smiled  and  sighed 

Our  true  male  estimator — "  puts  her  pride 

My  wife  in  making  me  the  outlet  whence 

She  learns  all  Heaven  allows :  'tis  my  pretence 

To  paint :  her  lord  should  do  what  else  but  paint  ? 

Do  I  break  brushes,  cloister  me  turned  saint  ? 

Then,  best  of  all  suits  sanctity  her  spouse 

Who  acts  for  Heaven,  allows  and  disallows 

At  pleasure,  past  appeal,  the  right,  the  wrong 

In  all  things.   That 's  my  wife's  way.    But  this  strong 

Confident  Artemisia — an  adept 

In  Art  does  she  conceit  herself?     '  Except 

In  just  this  instance,'  tell  her,  '  no  one  draws 

More  rigidly  observant  of  the  laws 

Of  right  design  :  yet  here, — permit  me  hint, — 

If  the  acromion  had  a  deeper  dint, 

That  shoulder  were  perfection.'     What  surprise 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  83 

— Nay  scorn,  shoots  black  fire  from  those  startled  eyes  ! 

She  to  be  lessoned  in  design  forsooth  ! 

I'm  doomed  and  done  for,  since  I  spoke  the  truth. 

Make  my  own  work  the  subject  of  dispute — 

Fails  it  of  just  perfection  absolute 

Somewhere  ?    Those  motors,  flexors, — don't  I  know 

Ser  Santi,  styled  '  Tirititototo 

The  pencil-prig,'  might  blame  them?     Yet  my  wife — 

Were  he  and  his  nicknamer  brought  to  life, 

Tito  and  Titian,  to  pronounce  again — 

Ask  her  who  knows  more — I  or  the  great  Twain 

Our  colourist  and  draughtsman  ! 

"  I  help  her, 
Not  she  helps  me ;  and  neither  shall  demur 

Because  my  portion  is "  he  chose  to  think — 

"  Quite  other  than  a  woman's :  I  may  drink 
At  many  waters,  must  repose  by  none — 

G  2 


84  ASOLANDO: 

Rather  arise  and  fare  forth,  having  done 

Duty  to  one  new  excellence  the  more, 

Abler  thereby,  though  impotent  before 

So  much  was  gained  of  knowledge.     Best  depart 

From  this  last  lady  I  have  learned  by  heart ! " 


Thus  he  concluded  of  himself — resigned 
To  play  the  man  and  master  :  "  Man  boasts  mind  ; 
Woman,  man's  sport  calls  mistress,  to  the  same 
Does  body's  suit  and  service.     Would  she  claim 
— My  placid  Beatrice-wife — pretence 
Even  to  blame  her  lord  if,  going  hence, 
He  wistfully  regards  one  whom — did  fate 
Concede — he  might  accept  queen,  abdicate 
Kingship  because  of  ? — one  of  no  meek  sort 
But  masterful  as  he  :  man  's  match  in  short  ? 
Oh,  there  's  no  secret  I  were  best  conceal  ! 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  85 

Bice  shall  know  ;  and  should  a  stray  tear  steal 
From  out  the  blue  eye,  stain  the  rose  cheek — bah  ! 
A  smile,  a  word 's  gay  reassurance — ah. 
With  kissing  interspersed, — shall  make  amends. 
Turn  pain  to  pleasure." 

"What,  in  truth  so  ends 
Abruptly,  do  you  say,  our  intercourse?  " 
Next  day,  asked  Artemisia  :  "  I  'II  divorce 
Husband  and  wife  no  longer.     Go  your  ways. 
Leave  Rome  !     Viterbo  owns  no  equal,  says 
The  bye-word,  for  fair  women  :  you,  no  doubt. 
May  boast  a  paragon  all  specks  without. 
Using  the  painter's  privilege  to  choose 
Among  what 's  rarest.     Will  your  wife  refuse 
Acceptance  from — no  rival — of  a  gift  ? 
You  paint  the  human  figure  I  make  shift 
Humbly  to  reproduce  :  but,  in  my  hours 


S6 


ASOLANDO: 


Of  idlesse,  what  I  fain  would  paint  is — flowers. 
Look  now  !  " 

She  twitched  aside  a  veiling  cloth. 
"  Here  is  my  keepsake — frame  and  picture  both  : 
For  see,  the  frame  is  all  of  flowers  festooned 
About  an  empty  space, — left  thus,  to  wound 
No  natural  susceptibility  : 
How  can  I  guess  ?     'Tis  you  must  fill,  not  I, 
The  central  space  with — her  whom  you  like  best ! 
That  is  your  business,  mine  has  been  the  rest. 
But  judge  ! " 

How  judge  them  ?  Each  of  us,  in  flower? 
Chooses  his  love,  allies  it  with  past  hours. 
Old  meetings,  vanished  forms  and  faces  :  no- 
Here  let  each  favourite  unmolested  blow 
For  one  heart's  homage,  no  tongue's  banal  praise. 
Whether  the  rose  appealingly  bade  "  Gaze 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  87 

Your  fill  on  me,  sultana  who  dethrone 

The  gaudy  tulip  !"  or  'twas  "Me  alone 

Rather  do  homage  to,  who  lily  am, 

No  unabashed  rose  ! "     "  Do  I  vainly  cram 

My  cup  with  sweets,  your  jonquil  ?"     "  Why  forget 

Vernal  endearments  with  the  violet  ?  " 

So  they  contested  yet  concerted,  all 

As  one,  to  circle  round  about,  enthral 

Yet,  self-forgetting,  push  to  prominence 

The  midmost  wonder,  gained  no  matter  whence. 

There  's  a  tale  extant,  in  a  book  I  conned 
Long  years  ago,  which  treats  of  things  beyond 
The  common,  antique  times  and  countries  queer 
And  customs  strange  to  match.     "  'T  is  said,  last  year," 
(Recounts  my  author,)  "that  the  King  had  mind 
To  view  his  kingdom — guessed  at  from  behind 


88 


ASOLANDO: 


A  palace- window  hitherto.     Announced 

No  sooner  was  such  purpose  than  't  was  pounced 

Upon  by  all  the  ladies  of  the  land — 

Loyal  but  light  of  life  :  they  formed  a  band 

Of  loveliest  ones  but  lithest  also,  since 

Proudly  they  all  combined  to  bear  their  prince. 

Backs  joined  to  breasts, — arms,  legs, — nay,  ankles,  wrists, 

Hands,  feet,  I  know  not  by  what  turns  and  twists, 

So  interwoven  lay  that  you  believed 

'T  was  one  sole  beast  of  burden  which  received 

The  monarch  on  its  back,  of  breadth  not  scant, 

Since  fifty  girls  made  one  white  elephant. 

So  with  the  fifty  flowers  which  shapes  and  hues 

Blent,  as  I  tell,  and  made  one  fast  yet  loose 

Mixture  of  beauties,  composite,  distinct 

No  less  in  each  combining  flower  that  linked 

With  flower  to  form  a  fit  environment 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  89 

For — whom  might  be  the  painter's  heart's  intent 
Thus,  in  the  midst  enhaloed,  to  enshrine  ? 

"  This  glory-guarded  middle  space — is  mine  ? 
Forme  to  fill?" 

"  For  you,  my  Friend  !     We  part, 
Never  perchance  to  meet  again.     Your  Art — 
What  if  I  mean  it — so  to  speak — shall  wed 
My  own,  be  witness  of  the  life  we  led 
When  sometimes  it  has  seemed  our  souls  near  found 
Each  one  the  other  as  its  mate — unbound 
Had  yours  been  haply  from  the  better  choice 
— Beautiful  Bice  :  'tis  the  common  voice. 
The  crowning  verdict.     Make  whom  you  like  best 
Queen  of  the  central  space,  and  manifest 
Your  predilection  for  what  flower  beyond 
All  flowers  finds  favour  with  you.     I  am  fond 


90  ASOLANDO : 

Of — say — yon  rose's  rich  predominance, 
While  you — what  wonder  ? — more  affect  the  glance" 
The  gentler  violet  from  its  leafy  screen 
Ventures :  so — choose  your  flower  and  paint  your 
queen ! " 


Oh  but  the  man  was  ready,  head  as  hand, 
Instructed  and  adroit.     "  Just  as  you  stand, 
Stay  and  be  made — would  Nature  but  relent 
By  Art  immortal  !  " 

Every  implement 
In  tempting  reach — a  palette  primed,  each  squei 
Of  oil-paint  in  its  proper  patch — with  these. 
Brushes,  a  veritable  sheaf  to  grasp  ! 
He  worked  as  he  had  never  dared. 

"  Unclasp 
My  Art  from  yours  who  can  ! " — he  cried  at  lengtl 


% 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  91 

As  down  he  threw  the  pencil — "  Grace  from  Strength 

Dissociate,  from  your  flowery  fringe  detach 

My  face  of  whom  it  frames, — the  feat  will  match 

With  that  of  Time  should  Time  from  me  extract 

Your  memory,  Artemisia !  "     And  in  fact, — 

What  with  the  pricking  impulse,  sudden  glow 

Of  soul — head,  hand  co-operated  so 

That  face  was  worthy  of  its  frame,  't  is  said — 

Perfect,  suppose  ! 

They  parted.     Soon  instead 
Of  Rome  was  home, — of  Artemisia — well. 
The  placid -perfect  wife.     And  it  befell 
That  after  the  first  incontestably 
Blessedest  of  all  blisses  ( — wherefore  try 
Your  patience  with  embracings  and  the  rest 
Due  from  Calypso's  all-unwilling  guest 
To  his  Penelope  ?) — there  somehow  came 


92  ASOLANDO: 

The  coolness  which  as  duly  follows  flame. 
So,  one  day,  "  What  if  we  inspect  the  gifts 
My  Art  has  gained  us  ?  " 

Now  the  wife  uplift's 
A  casket-lid,  now.  tries  a  medal's  chain 
Round  her  own  lithe  neck,  fits  a  ring  in  vain 
— Too  loose  on  the  fine  finger, — vows  and  swears 
The  jewel  with  two  pendent  pearls  like  pears 
Betters  a  lady's  bosom — witness  else  ! 
And  so  forth,  while  Ulysses  smiles. 

"  Such  spells 
Subdue  such  natures— sex  must  worship  toys 
— Trinkets  and  trash  :  yet,  ah,  quite  other  joys 
Must  stir  from  sleep  the  passionate  abyss 
Of— such  an  one  as  her  I  know — not  this 
My  gentle  consort  with  the  milk  for  blood  ! 
Why,  did  it  chance  that  in  a  careless  mood 


S 

I 


FANCIES  AND    FACTS  93 

(In  those  old  days,  gone — never  to  return — 

When  we  talked — she  to  teach  and  I  to  learn) 

I  dropped  a  word,  a  hint  which  might  imply 

Consorts  exist — how  quick  flashed  fire  from  eye. 

Brow  blackened,  lip  was  pinched  by  furious  lip  ! 

I  needed  no  reminder  of  my  slip  : 

One  warning  taught  me  wisdom.     Whereas  here  .  .  . 

Aha.  a  sportive  fancy!     Eh,  what  fear 

Of  harm  to  follow  ?    Just  a  whim  indulged  ! 

"  My  Beatrice,  there  's  an  undivulged 

Surprise  in  store  for  you  :  the  moment 's  fit 

For  letting  loose  a  secret  :  out  with  it  ! 

Tributes  to  worth,  you  rightly  estimate 

These  gifts  of  Prince  and  Bishop,  Church  and  State  : 

Yet,  may  I  tell  you  ?     Tastes  so  disagree  ! 

There  's  one  gift,  preciousest  of  all  to  me, 


94 


ASOLANDO : 


I  doubt  if  you  would  value  as  well  worth 
The  obvious  sparkling  gauds  that  men  unearth 
For  toy-cult  mainly  of  you  womankind ; 
Such  make  you  marvel,  I  concede  :  while  blind 
The  sex  proves  to  the  greater  marvel  here 
I  veil  to  baulk  its  envy.     Be  sincere  ! 
Say,  should  you  search  creation  far  and  wide. 
Was  ever  face  like  this  ?  " 


He  drew  aside 
The  veil,  displayed  the  flower-framed  portrait  kept 
For  private  delectation. 

No  adept 
In  florist's  lore  more  accurately  named 
And  praised  or,  as  appropriately,  blamed 
Specimen  after  specimen  of  skill. 
Than  Bicd.     "  Rightly  placed  the  daffodil— 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  95 

Scarcely  so  right  the  blue  germander.     Grey 
Good  mouse-ear !     Hardly  your  auricula 
Is  powdered  white  enough.     It  seems  to  me 
Scarlet  not  crimson,  that  anemone  : 
But  there  's  amends  in  the  pink  saxifrage. 
O  darling  dear  ones,  let  me  disengage 
You  innocents  from  what  your  harmlessness 
Clasps  lovingly  !     Out  thou  from  their  caress, 
Serpent ! " 

Whereat  forth -flashing  from  her  coils 
On  coils  of  hair,  the  spilla  in  its  toils 
Of  yellow  wealth,  the  dagger-plaything  kept 
To  pin  its  plaits  together,  life-like  leapt 
And — woe  to  all  inside  the  coronal ! 
Stab  followed  stab, — cut,  slash,  she  ruined  all 
The  masterpiece.     Alack  for  eyes  and  mouth 
And  dimples  and  endearment — North  and  South, 


96 


ASOLANDO : 


East,  West,  the  tatters  in  a  fury  flew  : 

There  yawned  the  circlet.     What  remained  to  do  ? 

She  flung  the  weapon,  and,  with  folded  arms 

And  mien  defiant  of  such  low  alarms 

As  death  and  doom  beyond  death,  Bice  stood 

Passively  statuesque,  in  quietude 

Awaiting  judgment. 

And  out  judgment  burst 
With  frank  unloading  of  love's  laughter,  first 
Freed  from  its  unsuspected  source.     Some  throe 
Must  needs  unlock  love's  prison-bars,  let  flow 
The  joyance. 

"  Then  you  ever  were,  still  are, 
And  henceforth  shall  be — no  occulted  star 
But  my  resplendent  Bice,  sun-revealed, 
Full-rondure !     Woman-glory  unconcealed, 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  97 

So  front  me,  find  and  claim  and  take  your  own — 

My  soul  and  body  yours  and  yours  alone, 

As  you  are  mine,  mine  wholly  !     Heart's  love,  take — 

Use  your  possession — stab  or  stay  at  will 

Here — hating,  saving — woman  with  the  skill 

To  make  man  beast  or  god  ! " 

And  so  it  proved  : 
For,  as  beseemed  new  godship,  thus  he  loved. 
Past  power  to  change,  until  his  dying-day, — 
Good  fellow  !     And  I  fain  would  hope — some  say 
Indeed  for  certain — that  our  painter's  toils 
At  fresco-splashing,  finer  stroke  in  oils, 
Were  not  so  mediocre  after  all ; 
Perhaps  the  work  appears  unduly  small 
From  having  loomed  too  large  in  old  esteem, 
Patronized  by  late  Papacy.     I  seem 
Myself  to  have  cast  eyes  on  certain  work 


98 


ASOLANDO: 


In  sundry  galleries,  no  judge  needs  shirk 
From  moderately  praising.     He  designed 
Correctly,  nor  in  colour  lagged  behind 
His  age :  but  both  in  Florence  and  in  Rome 
The  elder  race  so  make  themselves  at  home 
That  scarce  we  give  a  glance  to  ceilingfuls 
Of  such  like  as  Francesco.     Still,  one  culls 
From  out  the  heaped  laudations  of  the  time 
The  pretty  incident  I  put  in  rhyme. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  99 


FLUTE-MUSIC,    WITH  AN  ACCOMPANIMENT. 

He.     Ah,  the  bird-like  fluting 

Through  the  ash-tops  yonder — 
Bullfinch-bubblings,  soft  sounds  suiting 

What  sweet  thoughts,  I  wonder  ? 
Fine-pearled  notes  that  surely 

Gather,  dewdrop-fashion. 
Deep-down  in  some  heart  which  purely 

Secretes  globuled  passion — 
Passion  insuppressive — 

Such  is  piped,  for  certain ; 
Love,  no  doubt,  nay,  love  excessive 

T  is,  your  ash-tops  curtain. 


ASOLANDO: 

Would  your  ash-tops  open 

We  might  spy  the  player — 
Seek  and  find  some  sense  which  no  pen 

Yet  from  singer,  sayer, 
Ever  has  extracted : 

Never,  to  my  knowledge, 
Yet  has  pedantry  enacted 

That,  in  Cupid's  College, 
Just  this  variation 

Of  the  old  old  yearning 
Should  by  plain  speech  have  salvation, 

Yield  new  men  new  learning. 


"  Love !  "  but  what  love,  nicely 
New  from  old  disparted, 

Would  the  player  teach  precisely  ? 
First  of  all,  he  started 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 

In  my  brain  Assurance — 

Trust — entire  Contentment — 
Passion  proved  by  much  endurance ; 

Then  came — not  resentment, 
No,  but  simply  Sorrow  : 

What  was  seen  had  vanished  : 
Yesterday  so  blue  !     To-morrow 

Blank,  all  sunshine  banished. 

Hark  !     'T  is  Hope  resurges, 

Struggling  through  obstruction — 
Forces  a  poor  smile  which  verges 

On  Joy's  introduction. 
Now,  perhaps,  mere  Musing : 

"  Holds  earth  such  a  wonder  ? 
Fairy-mortal,  soul-sense-fusing 

Past  thought's  power  to  sunder !  " 


ASOLANDO: 

What  ?  calm  Acquiescence  ? 
"  Daisied  turf  gives  room  to 

Trefoil,  plucked  once  in  her  presence- 
Growing  by  her  tomb  too  !  " 


She.  All 's  your  fancy-spinning  ! 

Here  's  the  fact  :  a  neighbour 
Never-ending,  still  beginning. 

Recreates  his  labour : 
Deep  o'er  desk  he  drudges, 

Adds,  divides,  subtracts  and 
Multiplies,  until  he  judges 

Noonday-hour's  exact  sand 
Shows  the  hourglass  emptied : 

Then  comes  lawful  leisure, 
Minutes  rare  from  toil  exempted, 

Fit  to  spend  in  pleasure. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  103 

Out  then  with — what  treatise  ? 

Youth's  Co7nplete  Instructor 
How  to  play  the  Flute.     Quid  petis  ? 

Follow  Youth's  conductor 
On  and  on,  through  Easy, 

Up  to  Harder,  Hardest 
Flute-piece,  till  thou,  flautist  wheezy. 

Possibly  discardest 
Tootlings  hoarse  and  husky, 

Mayst  expend  with  courage 
Breath — on  tunes  once  bright  now  dusky — 

Meant  to  cool  thy  porridge. 

That 's  an  air  of  Tulou's 

He  maltreats  persistent. 
Till  as  lief  I  'd  hear  some  Zulu's 

Bone-piped  bag,  breath-distent, 


104 


ASOLANDO: 


Madden  native  dances. 

I  'm  the  man's  familiar : 
Unexpectedness  enhances 

What  your  ear's  auxiliar 
— Fancy — finds  suggestive. 

Listen  !     That 's  legato 
Rightly  played,  his  fingers  restive 

Touch  as  if  staccato. 


He.     Ah,  you  trick-betrayer  ! 

TelHng  tales,  unwise  one  ? 
So  the  secret  of  the  player 

Was — he  could  surprise  one 
Well-nigh  into  trusting 

Here  was  a  musician 
Skilled  consummately,  yet  lusting 

Through  no  vile  ambition 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 

After  making  captive 

All  the  world, — rewarded 
Amply  by  one  stranger's  rapture, 

Common  praise  discarded. 

So,  without  assistance 

Such  as  music  rightly 
Needs  and  claims, — defying  distance, 

Overleaping  lightly 
Obstacles  which  hinder, — 

He,  for  my  approval. 
All  the  same  and  all  the  kinder 

Made  mine  what  might  move  all 
Earth  to  kneel  adoring  : 

Took — while  he  piped  Gounod's 
Bit  of  passionate  imploring — 

Me  for  Juliet :  who  knows  ? 


io6 


ASOLANDO : 


No  !  as  you  explain  things, 

All 's  mere  repetition, 
Practise-pother :  of  all  vain  things 

Why  waste  pooh  or  pish  on 
Toilsome  effort — never 

Ending,  still  beginning — 
After  what  should  pay  endeavour 

— Right-performance?  winning 
Weariness  from  you  who, 

Ready  to  admire  some 
Owl's  fresh  hooting — Tu-whit,  tu-who- 

Find  stale  thrush-songs  tiresome. 


She.     Songs,  Spring  thought  perfection. 
Summer  criticizes  : 
What  in  May  escaped  detection, 
August,  past  surprises, 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  107 

Notes,  and  names  each  blunder. 

You,  the  just- initiate, 
Praise  to  heart's  content  (what  wonder  ?) 

Tootings  I  hear  vitiate 
Romeo's  serenading — 

I  who,  times  full  twenty, 
Turned  to  ice— no  ash-tops  aiding — 

At  his  caldamente. 

So,  't  was  distance  altered 

Sharps  to  flats  ?     The  missing 
Bar  when  syncopation  faltered 

(You  thought — paused  for  kissing  !) 
Ash-tops  too  felonious 

Intercepted  ?     Rather 
Say — they  well-nigh  made  euphonious 

Discord,  helped  to  gather 


io8 


ASOLANDO: 


Phrase,  by  phrase,  turn  patches 

Into  simulated 
Unity  which  botching  matches, - 

Scraps  redintegrated. 


He.     Sweet,  are  you  suggestive 

Of  an  old  suspicion 
Which  has  always  found  me  restive 

To  its  /admonition 
When  it  ventured  whisper 

"  Fool,  the  strifes  and  struggles 
Of  your  trembler — blusher — lisper 

Were  so  many  juggles, 
Tricks  tried — oh,  so  often  ! — 

Which  once  more  do  duty. 
Find  again  a  heart  to  soften, 

Soul  to  snare  with  beauty." 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  109 

Birth-blush  of  the  briar-rose, 

Mist-bloom  of  the  hedge-sloe, 
Someone  gains  the  prize :  admire  rose 

Would  he,  when  noon's  wedge — slow — 
Sure,  has  pushed,  expanded 

Rathe  pink  to  raw  redness  ? 
Would  he  covet  sloe  when  sanded 

By  road-dust  to  deadness  ? 
So — restore  their  value  ! 

Ply  a  water-sprinkle ! 
Then  guess  sloe  is  fingered,  shall  you  ? 

Find  in  rose  a  wrinkle  ? 

Here  what  played  Aquarius  ? 

Distance — ash-tops  aiding, 
Reconciled  scraps  else  contrarious, 

Brightened  stuff  fast  fading. 


ASOLANDO: 


Distance — call  your  shyness  : 

Was  the  fair  one  peevish  ? 
Coyness  softened  out  of  slyness. 

Was  she  cunning,  thievish, 
All-but-proved  impostor  ? 

Bear  but  one  day's  exile, 
Ugly  traits  were  wholly  lost  or 

Screened  by  fancies  flexile — 

Ash-tops  these,  you  take  me  ? 

Fancies'  interference 
Changed  .  .  . 

But  since  I  sleep,  don't  wake  me  ! 

What  if  all 's  appearance  ? 
Is  not  outside  seeming 

Real  as  substance  inside  ? 
Both  are  facts,  so  leave  me  dreaming : 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS 

If  who  loses  wins  I  'd 
Ever  lose, — conjecture, 

From  one  phrase  trilled  deftly, 
All  the  piece.     So,  end  your  lecture, 

Let  who  lied  be  left  lie ! 


ASOLANDO: 


'  IMPERANTE  AUG  US  TO  NATUS  EST^ 


What  it  was  struck  the  terror  into  me  ? 
This,  Pubhus  :  closer !  while  we  wait  our  turn 
I  '11  tell  you.     Water 's  warm  (they  ring  inside) 
At  the  eighth  hour,  till  when  no  use  to  bathe. 


I 


Here  in  the  vestibule  where  now  we  sit, 

One  scarce  stood  yesterday,  the  throng  was  such^ 

Of  loyal  gapers,  folk  all  eye  and  ear 

While  Lucius  Varius  Rufus  in  their  midst 

Read  out  that  long-planned  late-completed  piece, 

His  Panegyric  on  the  Emperor. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  113 

*'  Nobody  like  him  "  little  Flaccus  laughed 
"  At  leading  forth  an  Epos  with  due  pomp  ! 
Only,  when  godlike  Caesar  swells  the  theme, 
How  should  mere  mortals  hope  to  praise  aright  ? 
Tell  me,  thou  offshoot  of  Etruscan  kings !" 
Whereat  Maecenas  smiling  sighed  assent. 

I  paid  my  quadrans,  left  the  Thermae's  roar 

Of  rapture  as  the  poet  asked  "  What  place 

Among  the  godships  Jove,  for  Caesar's  sake, 

Would  bid  its  actual  occupant  vacate 

In  favour  of  the  new  divinity  ?  " 

And  got  the  expected  answer  "  Yield  thine  own ! " — 

Jove  thus  dethroned,  I  somehow  wanted  air. 

And  found  myself  a-pacing  street  and  street. 

Letting  the  sunset,  rosy  over  Rome, 

Clear  my  head  dizzy  with  the  hubbub — say, 

I 


114  ASOLANDO: 

As  if  thought's  dance  therein  had  kicked  up  dust 
By  trampling  on  all  else :  the  world  lay  prone, 
As — poet-propped,  in  brave  hexameters — 
Their  subject  triumphed  up  from  man  to  God. 
Caius  Octavius  Caesar  the  August — 
Where  was  escape  from  his  prepotency  ? 
I  judge  I  may  have  passed — how  many  piles 
Of  structure  dropt  like  doles  from  his  free  Jiand 
To  Rome  on  every  side  ?     Why,  right  and  left. 
For  temples  you've  the  Thundering  Jupiter, 
Avenging  Mars,  Apollo  Palatine : 
How  count  Piazza,  Forum — there 's  a  third 
All  but  completed.     You  Ve  the  Theatre 
Named  of  Marcellus — all  his  work,  such  work  ! — 
One  thought  still  ending,  dominating  all — 
With  warrant  Varius  sang  "  Be  Ccesar  God  !" 
By  what  a  hold  arrests  he  Fortune's  wheel. 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  115 

Obtaining  and  retaining  heaven  and  earth 

Through  Fortune,  if  you  like,  but  favour — no  ! 

For  the  great  deeds  flashed  by  me,  fast  and  thick 

As  stars  which  storm  the  sky  on  autumn  nights — 

Those  conquests  !  but  peace  crowned  them, — so,  of  peace  ! 

Count  up  his  titles  only — these,  in  few — 

Ten  years  Triumvir,  Consul  thirteen  times, 

Emperor,  nay — the  glory  topping  all — 

Hailed  Father  of  his  Country,  last  and  best 

Of  titles,  by  himself  accepted  so : 

And  why  not  ?     See  but  feats  achieved  in  Rome — 

Not  to  say,  Italy — he  planted  there 

Some  thirty  colonies — but  Rome  itself 

All  new-built,  "  marble  now,  brick  once,"  he  boasts  : 

This  Portico,  that  Circus.     Would  you  sail  ? 

He  has  drained  Tiber  for  you  :  would  you  walk  ? 

He  straightened  out  the  long  Flaminian  Way. 


ii6 


ASOLANDO: 


Poor  ?     Profit  by  his  score  of  donatives  ! 

Rich — that  is,  mirthful  ?     Half-a-hundred  games 

Challenge  your  choice !     There 's  Rome — for  you  and  me" 

Only  ?     The  centre  of  the  world  besides  ! 

For,  look  the  wide  world  over,  where  ends  Rome  ? 

To  sunrise  ?     There 's  Euphrates — all  between  ! 

To  sunset  ?     Ocean  and  immensity  : 

North, — stare  till  Danube  stops  you  :  South,  see  Nile, 

The  Desert  and  the  earth-upholding  Mount. 

Well  may  the  poet-people  each  with  each 

Vie  in  his  praise,  our  company  of  swans, 

Virgil  and  Horace,  singers — in  their  way — 

Nearly  as  good  as  Varius,  though  less  famed : 

Well  may  they  cry,  ''  No  mortal,  plainly  God ! ' 


Thus  to  myself  myself  said,  while  I  walked  : 

Or  would  have  said,  could  thought  attain  to  speech, 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  117 

Clean  baffled  by  enormity  of  bliss 

The  while  I  strove  to  scale  its  heights  and  sound 

Its  depths — this  masterdom  o'er  all  the  world 

Of  one  who  was  but  born, — like  you,  like  me, 

Like  all  the  world  he  owns, — of  flesh  and  blood. 

But  he — how  grasp,  how  gauge  his  own  conceit 

Of  bliss  to  me  near  inconceivable  ? 

Or — since  such  flight  too  much  makes  reel  the  brain — 

Let 's  sink — and  so  take  refuge,  as  it  were, 

From  life's  excessive  altitude — to  life's 

Breathable  wayside  shelter  at  its  base ! 

If  looms  thus  large  this  Caesar  to  myself 

— Of  senatorial  rank  and  somebody — 

How  must  he  strike  the  vulgar  nameless  crowd, 

Innumerous  swarm  that 's  nobody  at  all  ? 

Why, — for  an  instance, — much  as  yon  gold  shape 

Crowned,  sceptred,  on  the  temple  opposite — 


li8  ASOLANDO: 

Fulgurant  Jupiter — must  daze  the  sense 

Of — say,  yon  outcast  begging  from  its  step  ! 

What,  anti-Caesar,  monarch  in  the  mud. 

As  he  is  pinnacled  above  thy  pate  ? 

Ay,  beg  away  !  thy  lot  contrasts  full  well 

With  his  whose  bounty  yields  thee  this  support- 

Our  Holy  and  Inviolable  One, 

Caesar,  whose  bounty  built  the  fane  above ! 

Dost  read  my  thought  ?     Thy  garb,  alack,  displays 

Sore  usage  truly  in  each  rent  and  stain — 

Faugh  !     Wash  though  in  Suburra  !     'Ware  the  dogs 

Who  may  not  so  disdain  a  meal  on  thee ! 

What,  stretchest  forth  a  palm  to  catch  my  alms  ? 

Aha,  why  yes  :  I  must  appear — who  knows  ? — 

I,  in  my  toga,  to  thy  rags  and  thee — 

Quaestor — nay,  .^^dile.  Censor — Pol !  perhaps 

The  very  City-Praetor's  noble  self! 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  II9 

As  to  me  Caesar,  so  to  thee  am  I  ? 

Good :  nor  in  vain  shall  prove  thy  quest,  poor  rogue  ! 

Hither — hold  palm  out — take  this  quarter-as  ! 

And  who  did  take  it  ?     As  he  raised  his  head, 
(My  gesture  was  a  trifle — well,  abrupt). 
Back  fell  the  broad  flap  of  the  peasant's-hat. 
The  homespun  cloak  that  muffled  half  his  cheek 
Dropped  somewhat,  and  I  had  a  glimpse — ^just  one  ! 
One  was  enough.     Whose — whose  might  be  the  face  ? 
That  unkempt  careless  hair— brown,  yellowish — 
Those  sparkling  eyes  beneath  their  eyebrows'  ridge 
(Each  meets  each,  and  the  hawk-nose  rules  between) 
— That  was  enough,  no  glimpse  was  needed  more ! 
And  terrifyingly  into  my  mind 
Came  that  quick-hushed  report  was  whispered  us, 
^'They  do  say,  once  a  year  in  sordid  garb 


20  ASOLANDO: 

He  plays  the  mendicant,  sits  all  day  long, 

Asking  and  taking  alms  of  who  may  pass. 

And  so  averting,  if  submission  help. 

Fate's  envy,  the  dread  chance  and  change  of  things 

When  Fortune — for  a  word,  a  look,  a  nought — 

Turns  spiteful  and — the  petted  lioness — 

Strikes  with  her  sudden  paw,  and  prone  falls  each 

Who  patted  late  her  neck  superiorly. 

Or  trifled  with  those  claw-tips  velvet-sheathed." 

"  He  's  God !  "  shouts  Lucius  Varius  Rufus :  "  Man 

And  worms'-meat  any  moment ! "  mutters  low 

Some  Power,  admonishing  the  mortal-born. 


Ay,  do  you  mind  ?     There  's  meaning  in  the  fact 
That  whoso  conquers,  triumphs,  enters  Rome, 
Climbing  the  Capitolian,  soaring  thus 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  121 

To  glory's  summit, — Publius,  do  you  mark — 

Ever  the  same  attendant  who,  behind. 

Above  the  Conqueror's  head  supports  the  crown 

All-too-demonstrative  for  human  wear, 

— One  hand's  employment — all  the  while  reserves 

Its  fellow,  backward  flung,  to  point  how,  close 

Appended  from  the  car,  beneath  the  foot 

Of  the  up-borne  exulting  Conqueror, 

Frown — half-descried — the  instruments  of  shame, 

The  malefactor's  due.     Crown,  now — Cross,  when  ? 

Who  stands  secure  ?     Are  even  Gods  so  safe  ? 

Jupiter  that  just  now  is  dominant — 

Are  not  there  ancient  dismal  tales  how  once 

A  predecessor  reigned  ere  Saturn  came. 

And  who  can  say  if  Jupiter  be  last  ? 

Was  it  for  nothing  the  grey  Sibyl  wrote 


!2  ASOLANDO: 

^*  Caesar  Augustus  regnant,  shall  be  born 
In  blind  Judaea  " — one  to  master  him, 
Him  and  the  universe  ?    An  old-wife's  tale  ? 


Bath-drudge  !  Here,  slave  !    No  cheating !  Our  turnj 

next. 
No  loitering,  or  be  sure  you  taste  the  lash ! 
Two  strigils,  two  oil-drippers,  each  a  sponge ! 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  123 


DEVELOPMENT. 

My  Father  was  a  scholar  and  knew  Greek. 
When  I  was  five  years  old,  I  asked  him  once 
**  What  do  you  read  about  ?  " 

"  The  siege  of  Troy." 
*'  What  is  a  siege  and  what  is  Troy  ?  " 

Whereat 
He  piled  up  chairs  and  tables  for  a  town, 
Set  me  a-top  for  Priam,  called  our  cat 
— Helen,  enticed  away  from  home  (he  said) 
By  wicked  Paris,  who  couched  somewhere  close 
Under  the  footstool,  being  cowardly. 


124 


ASOLANDO: 


But  whom — since  she  was  worth  the  pains,  poor  puS 

Towzer  and  Tray,^ — our  dogs,  the  Atreidai, — sought 

By  taking  Troy  to  get  possession  of 

— Always  when  great  Achilles  ceased  to  sulk, 

(My  pony  in  the  stable) — forth  would  prance 

And  put  to  flight  Hector — our  page-boy's  self. 

This  taught  me  who  was  who  and  what  was  what  : 

So  far  I  rightly  understood  the  case 

At  five  years  old :  a  huge  delight  it  proved 

And  still  proves— thanks  to  that  instructor  sage 

My  Father,  who  knew  better  than  turn  straight 

Learning's  full  flare  on  weak-eyed  ignorance, 

Or,  worse  yet,  leave  weak  eyes  to  grow  sand-blind. 

Content  with  darkness  and  vacuity. 


It  happened,  two  or  three  years  afterward. 

That — I  and  playmates  playing  at  Troy's  Siege — 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  125 

My  Father  came  upon  our  make-believe. 

*'  How  would  you  like  to  read  yourself  the  tale 

Properly  told,  of  which  I  gave  you  first 

Merely  such  notion  as  a  boy  could  bear  ? 

Pope,  now,  would  give  you  the  precise  account 

Of  what,  some  day,  by  dint  of  scholarship, 

You  '11  hear — who  knows  ? — from  Homer's  very  mouth. 

Learn  Greek  by  all  means,  read  the  '  Blind  Old  Man, 

Sweetest  of  Singers' — tuphlos  which  means  *  blind,' 

Hedistos  which  means  '  sweetest.'     Time  enough  ! 

Try,  anyhow,  to  master  him  some  day ; 

Until  when,  take  what  serves  for  substitute, 

Read  Pope,  by  all  means  !  " 

So  I  ran  through  Pope, 
Enjoyed  the  tale — what  history  so  true  ? 
Also  attacked  my  Primer,  duly  drudged. 
Grew  fitter  thus  for  what  was  promised  next — 


126 


ASOLANDO: 


The  very  thing  itself,  the  actual  words, 

When  I  could  turn — say,  Buttmann  to  account. 

Time  passed,  I  ripened  somewhat :  one  fine  dd 
"Quite  ready  for  the  Iliad,  nothing  less? 
There 's  Heine,  where  the  big  books  block  the  shelf : 
Don't  skip  a  word,  thumb  well  the  Lexicon  ! " 


I  thumbed  well  and  skipped  nowise  till  I  learned  I 

Who  was  who,  what  was  what,  from  Homer's  tongue, 
And  there  an  end  of  learning.     Had  you  asked 
The  all-accomplished  scholar,  twelve  years  old, 
"Who  was  it  wrote  the  Iliad?  " — what  a  laugh  ! 
"  Why,  Homer,  all  the  world  knows  :  of  his  life 
Doubtless  some  facts  exist :  it 's  everywhere  : 
We  have  not  settled,  though,  his  place  of  birth  : 
He  begged,  for  certain,  and  was  blind  beside : 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  127 

Seven  cities  claimed  him — Scio,  with  best  right, 

Thinks  Byron.    What  he  wrote  ?    Those  Hymns  we  have. 

Then  there  's  the  '  Battle  of  the  Frogs  and  Mice/ 

That 's  all — unless  they  dig  '  Margites  '  up 

(I  'd  like  that)  nothing  more  remains  to  know." 

Thus  did  youth  spend  a  comfortable  time ; 
Until — *' What 's  this  the  Germans  say  is  fact 
That  Wolf  found  out  first?     It  ^s  unpleasant  work 
Their  chop  and  change,  unsettling  one's  belief: 
All  the  same,  while  we  live,  we  learn,  that's  sure."" 
So,  I  bent  brow  o'er  Prolegomena, 

And,  after  Wolf,  a  dozen  of  his  like 
Proved  there  was  never  any  Troy  at  all, 
Neither  Besiegers  nor  Besieged, — nay,  worse, — 
No  actual  Homer,  no  authentic  text, 


ASOLANDO: 


No  warrant  for  the  fiction  I,  as  fact, 
Had  treasured  in  my  heart  and  soul  so  long — 
Ay,  mark  you  !  and  as  fact  held  still,  still  hold, 
Spite  of  new  knowledge,  in  my  heart  of  hearts 
And  soul  of  souls,  fact's  essence  freed  and  fixed  , 
From  accidental  fancy's  guardian  sheath. 
Assuredly  thenceforward — thank  my  stars  ! — 
However  it  got  there,  deprive  who  could — 
Wring  from  the  shrine  my  precious  tenantry, 
Helen,  Ulysses,  Hector  and  his  Spouse, 
Achilles  and  his  Friend? — though  Wolf — ah,  Wolf! 
Why  must  he  needs  come  doubting,  spoil  a  dream  ? 


m 


But  then  "No  dream  's  worth  waking" — Browning  says  : 
And  here 's  the  reason  why  I  tell  thus  much. 
I,  now  mature  man,  you  anticipate, 


May  blame  my  Father  justifiably 


^ 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  129 

For  letting  me  dream  out  my  nonage  thus, 

And  only  by  such  slow  and  sure  degrees 

Permitting  me  to  sift  the  grain  from  chaff, 

Get  truth  and  falsehood  known  and  named  as  such. 

Why  did  he  ever  let  me  dream  at  all, 

Not  bid  me  taste  the  story  in  its  strength  ? 

Suppose  my  childhood  was  scarce  qualified 

To  rightly  understand  mythology, 

Silence  at  least  was  in  his  power  to  keep  : 

I  might  have— somehow — correspondingly — 

Well,  who  knows  by  what  method,  gained  my  gains. 

Been  taught,  by  forthrights  not  meanderings, 

My  aim  should  be  to  loathe,  like  Peleus'  son, 

A  lie  as  Hell's  Gate,  love  my  wedded  wife, 

Like  Hector,  and  so  on  with  all  the  rest. 

Could  not  I  have  excogitated  this 

Without  believing  such  men  really  were  ? 

K 


ASOLANDO: 

That  is — he  might  have  put  into  my  hand 

The  "  Ethics  "  ?     In  translation,  if  you  please, 

Exact,  no  pretty  lying  that  improves. 

To  suit  the  modern  taste :  no  more,  no  less  — 

The  "  Ethics  "  :  't  is  a  treatise  I  find  hard 

To  read  aright  now  that  my  hair  is  grey, 

And  I  can  manage  the  original. 

At  five  years  old — how  ill  had  fared  its  leaves  ! 

Now,  growing  double  o'er  the  Stagirite, 

At  least  I  soil  no  page  with  bread  and  milk. 

Nor  crumple,  dogsear  and  deface — boys'  way. 


I 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  131 


REP  HAN.'' 

How  I  lived,  ere  my  human  life  began 

In  this  world  of  yours, — like  you,  made  man, — 

W^hen  my  home  was  the  Star  of  my  God  Rephan  ? 

Come  then  around  me,  close  about. 
World-weary  earth-born  ones  !     Darkest  doubt 
Or  deepest  despondency  keeps  you  out  ? 

Nowise  !     Before  a  word  I  speak. 

Let  my  circle  embrace  your  worn,  your  weak, 

Brow-furrowed  old  age,  youth's  hollow  cheek — 

*  Suggested  by  a  very  early  recollection  of  a  prose  story  by  the 
noble  woman  and  imaginative  writer,  Jane  Taylor,  of  Norwich.. 


132  ASOLANDO: 

Diseased  in  the  body,  sick  in  soul, 

Pinched  poverty,  satiate  wealth, — your  whole 

Array  of  despairs  !     Have  I  read  the  roll  ? 


All  here  ?     Attend,  perpend  !  O  Star 
Of  my  God  Rephan,  what  wonders  are 
In  thy  brilliance  fugitive,  faint  and  far ! 


Far  from  me,  native  to  thy  realm. 

Who  shared  its  perfections  which  o'erwhelm 

Mind  to  conceive.     Let  drift  the  helm, 


Let  drive  the  sail,  dare  unconfined 
Embark  for  tlie  vastitude,  O  Mind, 
Of  an  absolute  bliss  !     Leave  earth  behind  ! 


t 


% 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  133 

Here,  by  extremes,  at  a  mean  you  guess : 
There,  all 's  at  most — not  more,  not  less  : 
Nowhere  deficiency  nor  excess. 


No  want — whatever  should  be,  is  now  : 

No  growth — that 's  change,  and  change  comes — how 

To  royalty  born  with  crown  on  brow  ? 


Nothing  begins — so  needs  to  end  : 
Where  fell  it  short  at  first  ?     Extend 
Only  the  same,  no  change  can  mend  ! 

I  use  your  language  :  mine — no  word 

Of  its  wealth  would  help  who  spoke,  who  heard. 

To  a  gleam  of  intelligence.     None  preferred, 


134 


ASOLANDO: 

None  felt  distaste  when  better  and  worse 
Were  uncontrastable :  bless  or  curse 
What — in  that  uniform  universe  ? 


Can  your  world's  phrase,  your  sense  of  things 
Forth-figure  the  Star  of  my  God  ?     No  springs, 
No  winters  throughout  its  space.     Time  brings 


No  hope,  no  fear :  as  to-day,  shall  be 
To-morrow  :  advance  or  retreat  need  we 
At  our  stand-still  through  eternity  ? 


All  happy :  needs  must  we  so  have  been. 
Since  who  could  be  otherwise  ?     All  serene  : 
What  dark  was  to  banish,  what  light  to  screen  ? 


rf 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  135 

Earth's  rose  is  a  bud  that 's  checked  or  grows 
As  beams  may  encourage  or  blasts  oppose : 
Our  lives  leapt  forth,  each  a  full-orbed  rose — 


Each  rose  sole  rose  in  a  sphere  that  spread 
Above  and  below  and  around  —rose-red  : 
No  fellowship,  each  for  itself  instead 


One  better  than  I — would  prove  I  lacked 
Somewhat :  one  worse  were  a  jarring  fact 
Disturbing  my  faultlessly  exact. 


How  did  it  come  to  pass  there  lurked 
Somehow  a  seed  of  change  that  worked 
Obscure  in  my  heart  till  perfection  irked  ?- 


136 


ASOLANDO : 


Till  out  of  its  peace  at  length  grew  strife — 
Hopes,  fears,  loves,  hates, — obscurely  rife,- 
My  life  grown  a-tremble  to  turn  your  life  ? 


Was  it  Thou,  above  all  lights  that  are, 
Prime  Potency,  did  Thy  hand  unbar 
The  prison-gate  of  Rephan  my  Star  ? 


In  me  did  such  potency  wake  a  pulse 
Could  trouble  tranquillity  that  lulls 
Not  lashes  inertion  till  throes  convulse 


Soul's  quietude  into  discontent  ? 

As  when  the  completed  rose  bursts,  rent 

By  ardors  till  forth  from  its  orb  are  sent 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  137 

New  petals  that  mar — unmake  the  disc — 
Spoil  rondure :  what  in  it  ran  brave  risk, 
Changed  apathy's  calm  to  strife,  bright,  brisk, 


Pushed  simple  to  compound,  sprang  and  spread 
Till,  fresh-formed,  facetted,  floretted. 
The  flower  that  slept  woke  a  star  instead  ? 


No  mimic  of  Star  Rephan  !     How  long 
I  stagnated  there  where  weak  and  strong, 
The  wise  and  the  foolish,  right  and  wrong, 


Are  merged  alike  in  a  neutral  Best, 

Can  I  tell  ?     No  more  than  at  whose  behest 

The  passion  arose  in  my  passive  breast. 


i3» 


ASOLANDO: 


And  I  yearned  for  no  sameness  but  difference 
In  thing  and  thing,  that  should  shock  my  sense 
With  a  want  of  worth  in  them  all,  and  thence 


Startle  me  up,  by  an  Infinite 
Discovered  above  and  below  me — height 
And  depth  alike  to  attract  my  flight, 

Repel  my  descent :  by  hate  taught  love. 
Oh,  gain  were  indeed  to  see  above 
Supremacy  ever — to  move,  remove. 


Not  reach — aspire  yet  never  attain 

To  the  object  aimed  at !     Scarce  in  vain,- 

As  each  stage  I  left  nor  touched  as:(ain. 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  139 

To  suffer,  did  pangs  bring  the  loved  one  bliss, 
Wring  knowledge  from  ignorance, — just  for  this — 
To  add  one  drop  to  a  love-abyss  ! 


Enough :  for  you  doubt,  you  hope,  O  men. 
You  fear,  you  agonize,  die  :  what  then  ? 
Is  an  end  to  your  hfe's  work  out  of  ken? 


Have  you  no  assurance  that,  earth  at  end. 
Wrong  will  prove  right  ?     Who  made  shall  mend 
In  the  higher  sphere  to  which  yearnings  tend? 


Why  should  I  speak  ?     You  divine  the  test. 
When  the  trouble  grew  in  my  pregnant  breast 
A  voice  said  "  So  wouldst  thou  strive,  not  rest  ? 


140 


ASOLANDO: 


"  Burn  and  not  smoulder,  win  by  worth, 
Not  rest  content  with  a  wealth  that 's  dearth  ? 
Thou  art  past  Rephan,  thy  place  be  Earth  1 1— 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  141 


REVERIE, 

I  KNOW  there  shall  dawn  a  day 
— Is  it  here  on  homely  earth  ? 

Is  it  yonder,  worlds  away, 

Where  the  strange  and  new  have  birth, 

That  Power  comes  full  in  play  ? 

Is  it  here,  wath  grass  about. 

Under  befriending  trees. 
When  shy  buds  venture  out. 

And  the  air  by  mild  degrees 
Puts  winter's  death  past  doubt  ? 


Is  it  up  amid  whirl  and  roar 

Of  the  elemental  flame 
Which  star-flecks  heaven's  dark  floor, 

That,  new  yet  still  the  same, 
Full  in  play  comes  Power  once  more  ? 


Somewhere,  below,  above, 

Shall  a  day  dawn — this  I  know- 
When  Power,  which  vainly  strove 

My  weakness  to  o'erthrow, 
Shall  triumph.     I  breathe,  I  move, 

I  truly  am,  at  last ! 

For  a  veil  is  rent  between 
Me  and  the  truth  which  passed 

Fitful,  half-guessed,  half-seen, 
Grasped  at — not  gained,  held  fast. 


■T 


FANCIES  AND   FACTS  143 

I  for  my  race  and  me 

Shall  apprehend  life's  law  : 
In  the  legend  of  man  shall  see 

AVrit  large  what  small  I  saw 
In  my  life's  tale  :  both  agree. 

As  the  record  from  youth  to  age 
Of  my  own,  the  single  soul — 

So  the  world's  wide  book :  one  page 
Deciphered  explains  the  whole 

Of  our  common  heritage. 

How  but  from  near  to  far 

Should  knowledge  proceed,  increase  ? 
I'ry  the  clod  ere  test  the  star ! 

Bring  our  inside  strife  to  peace 
Ere  we  wage,  on  the  outside,  war  ! 


144 


ASOLANDO: 

So,  my  annals  thus  begin  : 
With  body,  to  life  awoke 

Soul,  the  immortal  twin 

Of  body  which  bore  soul's  yoke 

Since  mortal  and  not  akin. 

By  means  of  the  flesh,  grown  fit, 
Mind,  in  surview  of  things, 

Now  soared,  anon  alit 
To  treasure  its  gatherings 

From  the  ranged  expanse — to -wit. 


Nature, — earth's,  heaven's  wide  show 
Which  taught  all  hope,  all  fear : 

Acquainted  with  joy  and  woe, 
I  could  say  "  Thus  much  is  clear. 

Doubt  annulled  thus  much  :  T  know. 


A 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  145 

"  All  is  effect  of  cause : 

As  it  would,  has  willed  and  done 
Power :  and  my  mind's  applause 

Goes,  passing  laws  each  one, 
To  Omnipotence,  lord  of  laws." 

Head  praises,  but  heart  refrains 

From  loving's  acknowledgment. 
Whole  losses  outweigh  half-gains : 

Earth's  good  is  with  evil  blent : 
Good  struggles  but  evil  reigns. 

Yet  since  Earth's  good  proved  good — 

Incontrovertibly 
Worth  loving — I  understood 

How  evil — did  mind  descry 
Power's  object  to  end  pursued — 

L 


ASOLANDO: 

Were  haply  as  cloud  across 

Good's  orb,  no  orb  itself: 
Mere  mind — were  it  found  at  loss 

Did  it  play  the  tricksy  elf 
And  from  life's  gold  purge  the  dross  ? 


Power  is  known  infinite  : 

Good  struggles  to  be — at  best 

Seems — scanned  by  the  human  sight, 
Tried  by  the  senses'  test — 

Good  palpably :  but  with  right 


^ 


Therefore  to  mind's  award 

Of  loving,  as  power  claims  praise  ? 
Power — which  finds  nought  too  hard, 

Fulfilling  itself  all  ways 
Unchecked,  unchanged  :  while  barred, 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  147 

Baffled,  what  good  began 

Ends  evil  on  every  side. 
To  Power  submissive  man 

Breathes  "  E'en  as  Thou  art,  abide  ! " 
While  to  good  "  Late-found,  long-sought, 

Would  Power  to  a  plenitude 

But  liberate,  but  enlarge 
Good's  strait  confine, — renewed 

Were  ever  the  heart's  discharge 
Of  loving  !  "     Else  doubts  intrude. 

For  you  dominate,  stars  all ! 

For  a  sense  informs  you — brute, 
Bird,  worm,  fly,  great  and  small, 

Each  with  your  attribute 
Or  low  or  majestical ! 


148  ASOLANDO: 

Thou  earth  that  embosomest 
Offspring  of  land  and  sea — 

How  thy  hills  first  sank  to  rest, 
How  thy  vales  bred  herb  and  tree 

Which  dizen  thy  mother-breast — 

Do  I  ask  ?     "Be  ignorant 

Ever !  "  the  answer  clangs : 
Whereas  if  I  plead  world's  want, 
;  Soul's  sorrows  and  body's  pangs. 

Play  the  human  applicant, — 

Is  a  remedy  far  to  seek? 

I  question  and  find  response : 
I — all  men,  strong  or  weak, 

Conceive  and  declare  at  once 
For  each  want  its  cure.      "Power,  speak 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  149 

"  Stop  change,  avert  decay, 

Fix  life  fast,  banish  death, 
Eclipse  from  the  star  bid  stay. 

Abridge  of  no  moment's  breath 
One  creature !    Hence,  Night,  hail,  Day ! " 

What  need  to  confess  again 

No  problem  this  to  solve 
By  impotence  ?    Power,  once  plain 

Proved  Power, — let  on  Power  devolve 
Good's  right  to  co-equal  reign ! 

Past  mind  's  conception — Power  ! 

Do  I  seek  how  star,  earth,  beast. 
Bird,  worm,  fly,  gained  their  dower 

For  life's  use,  most  and  least? 
Back  from  the  search  I  cower. 


150  ASOLANDO: 

Do  I  seek  what  heals  all  harm, 
Nay,  hinders  the  harm  at  first, 

Saves  earth  ?     Speak,  Power,  the  charm  \. 
Keep  the  life  there  unamerced 

By  chance,  change,  death's  alarm  ! 

As  promptly  as  mind  conceives. 
Let  Power  in  its  turn  declare 

Some  law  which  wrong  retrieves. 
Abolishes  everywhere 

What  thwarts,  what  irks,  what  grieves  \. 


Never  to  be  !  and  yet 

How  easy  it  seems — to  sense 
Like  man's — if  somehow  met 

Power  with  its  match — immense 
Love,  limitless,  unbeset 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  151 

By  hindrance  on  every  side  ! 

Conjectured,  nowise  known, 
Such  may  be  :  could  man  confide 

Such  would  match — were  Love  but  shown 
Stript  of  the  veils  that  hide — 

Power 's  self  now  manifest ! 

So  reads  my  record :  thine, 
O^world,  how  runs  it  ?     Guessed 

Were  the  purport  of  that  prime  line, 
Prophetic  of  all  the  rest ! 

"  In  a  beginning  God 

Made  heaven  and  earth."    Forth  flashed 
Knowledge :  from  star  to  clod 

Man  knew  things :  doubt  abashed 
Closed  its  long  period. 


ASOLANDO: 

Knowledge  obtained  Power  praise. 

Had  Good  been  manifest, 
Broke  out  in  cloudless  blaze, 

Unchequered  as  unrepressed. 
In  all  things  Good  at  best — 

Then  praise — all  praise,  no  blame — 
Had  hailed  the  perfection.     No ! 

As  Power's  display,  the  same 

Be  Good's — praise  forth  shall  flow 

Unisonous  in  acclaim ! 

Even  as  the  world  its  life, 
So  have  I  lived  my  own — 

Power  seen  with  Love  at  strife, 
That  sure,  this  dimly  shown, 

— Good  rare  and  evil  rife. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  153 

Whereof  the  effect  be — faith 

That,  some  far  day,  were  found 
Ripeness  in  things  now  rathe, 

Wrong  righted,  each  chain  unbound. 
Renewal  born  out  of  scathe. 

Why  faith— but  to  Hft  the  load, 

To  leaven  the  lump,  where  lies 
Mind  prostrate  through  knowledge  owed 

To  the  loveless  Power  it  tries 
To  withstand,  how  vain !     In  flowed 

Ever  resistless  fact : 

No  more  than  the  passive  clay 
Disputes  the  potter's  act. 

Could  the  whelmed  mind  disobey 
Knowledge  the  cataract. 


154  ASOLANDO: 

But,  perfect  in  every  part, 

Has  the  potter's  moulded  shape. 
Leap  of  man's  quickened  heart, 

Throe  of  his  thought's  escape. 
Stings  of  his  soul  which  dart 

Through  the  barrier  of  flesh,  till  keen 
She  climbs  from  the  calm  and  clear. 

Through  turbidity  all  between, 

From  the  known  to  the  unknown  here, 

Heaven's  "  Shall  be,"  from  Earth's  "  Has  been  "  ? 


Then  life  is — to  wake  not  sleep. 
Rise  and  not  rest,  but  press 

From  earth's  level  where  blindly  creep 
Things  perfected,  more  or  less, 

To  the  heaven's  height,  far  and  steep. 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  155 

Where,  amid  what  strifes  and  storms 

May  wait  the  adventurous  quest, 
Power  is  Love — transports,  transforms 

Who  aspired  from  worst  to  best, 
Sought  the  soul's  world,  spurned  the  worms'. 

I  have  faith  such  end  shall  be  : 

From  the  first.  Power  was — I  knew. 

Life  has  made  clear  to  me 

That,  strive  but  for  closer  view, 

Love  were  as  plain  to  see. 

When  see  ?    When  there  dawns  a  day. 

If  not  on  the  homely  earth. 
Then  yonder,  worlds  away. 

Where  the  strange  and  new  have  birth, 
And  Power  comes  full  in  play. 


156 


ASOLANDO: 


EPILOGUE 

At  the  midnight  in  the  silence  of  the  sleep-time, 

When  you  set  your  fancies  free, 
Will   they  pass   to  where — by   death,  fools   think,  im- 
prisoned— 
Low  he  lies  who  once  so  loved  you,  whom  you  loved  so, 
— Pity  me  ? 


Oh  to  love  so,  be  so  loved,  yet  so  mistaken ! 

What  had  I  on  earth  to  do 
With  the  slothful,  with  the  mawkish,  the  unmanly? 
Like  the  aimless,  helpless,  hopeless,  did  I  drivel 
— Being — who  ? 


FANCIES  AND  FACTS  157 

One  who  never  turned  his  back  but  marched  breast 
forward, 
Never  doubted  clouds  would  break, 
Never  dreamed,  though  right  were  worsted,  wrong  would 

triumph, 
Held  we  fall  to  rise,  are  baffled  to  fight  better. 
Sleep  to  wake. 

No,  at  noonday  in  the  bustle  of  man's  work-time 

Greet  the  unseen  with  a  cheer ! 
Bid  him  forward,  breast  and  back  as  either  should  be., 
*' Strive  and  thrive  !"  cry  "Speed, — fight  on,  fare  ever 
There  as  here  ! " 


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